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"I'm about as happy as a man who's football team's lost and who then goes back to his car and finds his tyre's punctured".

The words of veteran Lib Dem MP Bob Russell.

"I really have got to remember to stop myself having a go at them", laughs Conservative Richard Bacon, chortling over the new Lib Dem Scottish Secretary, Danny Alexander.

It is quite funny at the moment watching sworn enemies having to cosy up to one another through gritted teeth.

The pair joined us for the , which was about the Con Libs, or is that Lib Cons? You'd think somone would decide.

The Colchester MP seems genuinely dicomforted, as do most we have spoken to, and he donned a bright yellow waistcoat and badge to demonstrate his colours.

It may take a little more than that these days.

"Some of us in due course may not hold the same view as the whips, we shall have to see," warned Mr Russell, who admitted he was sulking after not being preferred for Veterans Minister.

"I'm told for every member that's left another two have joined".

Richard Bacon admits that getting the two parties to work together is not going to be easy :"some people have gone off in a strop. On Monday and Tuesday I heard a lot of people voicing their ".

"What people need to remember is that in 2005 we still had fewer MPs than Labour did under Michael Foot. Doing it in one step was always going to be nigh on impossible and we nearly did it".

Bob Russell said he had already held a meeting locally to try to . "One man who had come to rip up his membership card didn't" said the persuasive MP.

"I haven't had a formal meeting yet, I've spoken to people but there's no outcry," says Mr Bacon.

"Personally though, I don't see any problems with it".

Not so his Lib Dem colleague.

"But I respect the government of the country before party politics," Mr Russell sighed wearily.

The deal needs time to bed down and we need to stifle our laughter.

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