I can't think of anyone more repulsive than Clarkson, but this time I think he was attempting a joke that misfired. Just before the offending diatribe he had said he was grateful to those on strike because their actions had kept the roads clear. He then said that as he was on the BBC he ought to be impartial - and launched into his diatribe in what I took to be a facetious gesture towards "balance."

That said, I would be happy to be proved wrong, and even if I'm right I would be happy if the episode put paid to Clarkson's career, which is of course mostly public-service funded.

For David Cameron it makes a second bosom buddy and near neighbour persona non grata (Rebekah Brooks being the first). As the political commentator Paul Waugh tweeted, at this rate he'll be able to host his Christmas party in a phone booth.