Matthew Taylor and the big clunking fist

Writing on Matthew Taylor's decision to accept Gordon Brown's invitation to lead a review of planning and land-use policy in relation to rural and affordable housing, Hug A Hoodie says:

Ming needs to put his foot down. Active Lib Dems in elected positions should be working for their party, or for parliament, but not the PM.

But is this is really a case of the leader failing to put his foot down in time? Isn't a closer relationship between the Lib Dems and a Brown-led Labour Party what Ming has wanted all along?