If you’re looking for good news, the act is that since his drubbing of Tony Blair in the local elections David Cameron has felt more confident standing up for traditional conservative viewpoints. First, he has pleased social conservatives by starting to advance a coherent moral agenda, criticizing euthanasia, the sexualization of children and the excesses of the Human Rights Act.

Now, his Shadow Chancellor is attacking the BBC for its dominance of the British media industry. Well done!

I wonder if this has something to do with the fact that the touchy-feely, fluffy, environmentally-friendly agenda seems to be having no effect in the plain-speaking North?