A quickie, so to speak

It's TUC week in Brighton as the conference gets under way with a raft of 'hard-headed policy proposals' to sort out the economy. Most of it's not particularly surprising to be honest. Mandatory social tariffs for energy providers, an increase in the Winter Fuel Allowance, more tax on the wealthy,  significant cut in VAT on property renovation (that's a new one actually).

There's an interesting combination of calls for 'aggressive interest rate cuts' and big pay rises for the public sector. Inflation here we come. Full throttle.

I think the most fun to be had will be following Richard Balfe, the Conservative's newly appointed trade union envoy, around the place. Will union leaders meet him in the interests of hedging their bets for the next general election? If they do no doubt it'll be a clandestine affair and will probably look like middle aged men loitering about plucking up the courage to go into a sex shop. Except such a meeting would no doubt made the Brothers feel much more dirty.