So according to this report two weeks ago, all the people who live in the North should move to the South, because regeneration efforts are failing. To avoid become 'trapped' in poverty, people should move to Oxford, or Cambridge, say.
Of course, all the major parties rubbished it, and the councils of various Northern cities did as well. David Cameron said it was 'insane'.
Imagine my delight when I read another story today, this time about 'mapping' Britain's 'happiest places'. It seems Edinburgh comes out bottom - but, in a delicious irony given the story a couple of weeks ago - EIGHT of the top TEN happiest places in Britain are in the North of England or Scotland.
Now, what does that tell you? It tells me that stupid middle-class think-tanks assume that all that matters is financial well-being.
So, my call to the South is: come up here, it's a much happier place to live!
Along with many others (I suspect) I have been following with interest the race for the Democratic presidential candidate in America. It seems that Obama is building momentum - although Clinton is only a few delegates behind him, and wins in Texas and Ohio would put her back in front. Rarely is democracy actually exciting!
Obama's main policy seems to be 'change'. 'Under me things won't be like they've been before.' As a political weapon it is potent indeed: he's running against the wife of a former president, and looks like he will battle it out with McCain, who has run before.
We have seen a similar thing in this country with David Cameron and the Conservatives. They have long been claiming to be 'fresh' and 'new', that they will change things. But when the dust settles from the excitement they generate, the question is begged: what are they going to change, and to what are they going to change it?!
To be fair, the Conservatives in this country have been suggesting some policies recently. Obama would do well to learn their lesson; Labour spent two years hammering Cameron and his Conservatives, even casting him as a chameleon, because his message of change had little substance.
If he hasn't already, I hope that Obama is coming up with some concrete policy changes, which he will be able to go into detail on if (possibly when) he wins the Democratic nomination and goes head-to-head with McCain.
design © bcg mmviii
Recent Comments