Britain is going through a difficult time, when its sustained ability to punch above its weight, economically and diplomatically, is ebbing. The end of irrational exuberance found the country ill at ease with itself, with rising inequalities and unhealthy nationalism, just when it needs to be fleet-footed in recognising that many of the traditional pillars of its strengths have changed. The need is to recognise other supports and partners and find a new common purpose after the pandemic. I live in hope.

what the papers say

It was a good week for manchester, with a supplement in the times ("its all happening in manchester, the world's most progressive city ?"), a front page piece in the financial times ("manchester outstrips london as vibrant place to live"), and another glossy pumped out, in which I majored (p29) on high speed 2 and skills, "a huge and fundamental problem" caused at least in part by a ridiculous degree of centralisation, as the economist too noted. Everything but a beach.

Attached File: bdeskmcr.pdf