Diary likes to do a bit of digging now and again to while away the hours. So we thought we would investigate the whereabouts of Lib Dem communities minister Stephen Williams. The Welsh-Bristolian recently got into hot water with his coalition colleagues when he derided his department's council tax referendum threshold as ‘absurd'. This prompted concern among some who wondered what the consequences might be for the ex-tax consultant. Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn speculated about the reaction of his counterpart, Eric Pickles, when Mr Williams failed to turn up to a Parliamentary debate last month. Mr Benn said: ‘I hope the fact that he is not here today does not mean that he is being held hostage in the department by the secretary of state and I hope that he retains his independent streak.' So what happens to Lib Dem ministers who upset their Tory seniors? Are they sent to Coventry? Do they skedaddle under a rock? In this case, the Department of Communities and Local Government went further, posting Mr Williams to Srebrenica under the auspices of helping youngsters learn lessons from the 1990s Bosnian war.