'Prayer cards at dawn' in Plaid Cymru/Lib Dem seat row

Spot the Lib Dem: Plaid Cymru parliamentary leader Jonathan Edwards speaks from the disputed bench

Seat wars, round two. Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats are at odds over who gets to sit where in the House of Commons.

Peace may have broken out in a similar row between the SNP and Labour veteran Dennis Skinner but Plaid's three MPs and the Lib Dems' eight are in daily battle over the right to perch on the end of the bench three rows behind Mr Skinner's preferred seat.

The SNP/Labour row appears to have been resolved, with Commons leader Chris Grayling updating MPs on Thursday: "Although there are still some terrible conflicts around the world, which we hope to see resolved, I have to report to the House that one conflict close to home appears to have been resolved.

"The morning race for the front bench below the gangway on the opposition side has stopped, peace has broken out and an agreement has been reached between the two parties on where they will sit in future."

However, as Michael Gove would not write, hostilities between the Lib Dems and Plaid continue. Each morning, an MP from each party rushes to be first to plant a "prayer card" reserving seats for their party.

Lib Dem whip Tom Brake and new Plaid MP Liz Saville Roberts have been earning the gratitude of their colleagues by getting up early to reserve seats.

Plaid Arfon MP Hywel Williams told me the Liberal Democrats had failed to justify their right to sit on the disputed bench: "Unless they explain themselves we're not moving."