Inevitably, the cameras have been following Nick Clegg around this week as he minds the shop while David Cameron is on holiday, writes John Hipwood.

The Lib Dem leader was hardly likely therefore to repeat the mistake by John Prescott when he was pictured playing croquet at his official country residence, Dorneywood, while Tony Blair was visiting Washington in 2006.

The best that the photographers could manage was a shot of the Deputy Prime Minister in London’s West End where he took time off with his wife, Miriam, to see the stunning First World War play, War Horse.

Mr Clegg has to make do with sharing the impressive Chevening in Kent with Foreign Secretary William Hague, while Chancellor George Osborne has the use of Dorneywood in Buckinghamshire.

Ken Clarke once suggested that the Lib Dem leader could easily be a Conservative and would therefore have no difficulty in serving in a Tory-led Coalition.

A colleague went further this week by suggesting that Mr Clegg and Mr Cameron are becoming and sounding so alike that they will soon become indistinguishable.

I sometimes think you can tell a man’s character by checking on his favourite tipple.

Although he’s a great fan of the Wychwood Brewery in his Oxford constituency, Mr Cameron is a single malt whisky man.

Some years ago, soon after his election to Westminster, I was introduced to Mr Clegg at a Parliamentary Beer Club reception on the House of Commons terrace, where he impressed with his knowledge of and liking for real ale.

He has also been a regular critic of the annual increase in beer tax, although that may change now that he’s in government.

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Neither Mr Clegg nor Mr Osborne would comment on the accuracy of a rash of stories this week suggesting that universal benefits such as the pensioners’ winter fuel allowance and child benefit were under threat.

How many over-60s do you hear saying that they don’t need the fuel allowance and were anxious to see the money directed towards the needy?

There’s a simple answer to that. Don’t take the money.

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The BBC’s World at One invited old-timers Lords Prescott, Heseltine and Steel to discuss the current political situation on Wednesday, and each of them admitted that they did not need the winter fuel payment.

Lord Prescott lapsed into a typical attack on David Cameron’s and Nick Clegg’s private education and how it had enabled them and people like them to buy their top jobs.

The last word was given to Michael Heseltine, who, showing he has lost none of his ability to land a telling blow, commented: “John is out of touch, out of date, and, thank God, out of office.”

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If they needed a reminder that you threaten pensioners’ benefits at your peril, ministers were reminded this week of the voting power of older people.

A survey by Saga Populus showed that a very high percentage of over-50s voted at the May general election.

Emma Soames, editor of Saga magazine, said: “The political classes need to be aware that the over-50s form the majority of those who vote and their opinions must count if they yearn for elected office.

“They may vote quietly but they mark with a very firm cross,” she added.