Editor’s blog Wednesday 19 May 2010: Ex-Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb is deputy to Deputy Prime Minister

Congratulations to Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb MP, who is to be Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister. OK, it's not actually deputy Deputy Prime Minister, but a headline can only be so long.

He'll be in the Cabinet Office, attending cabinet meetings, making the coalition work - or trying to do so. In the latter context, he will also be a deputy whip.

Lamb served the Lib Dems with distinction in the health brief. He was informed and shrewd. Given the blood-letting to come, he may be well out of health (although I did hope he might get a ministerial gig).

His task is one hell of a job. There are left-right fault lines in both parties. There are going to be some powerful tensions ahead for this government.

The tectonic plates of the political landscape are going to do some interesting things to the geography of government.