Two politicians, both of whom I had a chance to see close up at university. For Labour, I present Dave Miliband, JCR President of Corpus Christi (I was his oppo at Exeter). We both represented the most over-privileged electorate in the world (he more conscientiously than me).

For the Conservatives, Boris Johnson, president of the Oxford Union, whose mantle of shambolic geniality I observed being cast off in the university newspaper offices, as he grumbled about some lost opportunity for self promotion. Later too, whilst Spectator editor in Doughty Street, he chose to conduct his liaisons in a coffee shop on Grays Inn Road, next door to ITN where I worked. It was unedifying stuff. Enough to sour the froth on your macchiato.

Miliband was enthusiastic, decent and smart. Someone with probity, who has probably not lost that quality despite – one imagines – getting his hands dirty along the way. The kind of person you thought ought to go into politics, but probably wouldn’t.

Johnson was ruthless, ambitious and amusing. A ventriloquist taken over by his dummy, victim of a public charade that brought success – but only so much. The kind of person you thought ought to stay out of politics, but probably wouldn’t.

The voters, of course, elected them both to safe seats.

Do personal qualities influence the choices open to politicians? The Foreign Office will find out, and so too may London.