Public officials, even retired ones, should not as a general rule attempt to undermine democracy. Imagine if, for example, a permanent secretary in the Home Office took to the airwaves to persuade the public to sit on their hands in a general election, in the hope that a low turnout would remove legitimacy from the
Electric dreams Manganese Bronze, the manufacturer of the most familiar model of London taxi, went into administration, putting a question mark over the black London cab. — Although they enjoy the status of a timeless icon, London cabs only became universally black after the second world war, while their less welcome signature, diesel fumes, only came in during
'It’s the constant bloody cackling.’
Stalwart of Strictly, winner of Rear of the Year 2011 and author of B is for Ballroom: Be Your Own Armchair Dancefloor Expert, dancer Anton du Beke is on this week’s Shelf Life. He tells us what he’s reading and which self help book would make him foxtrot for the hills. He tweets @TheAntonDuBeke 1). What
‘Miss Jones, take a grope.’
'This is crazy, Veronica. Can’t we go and see a marriage counsellor before this gets out of hand?’
'Good news.'
‘De de de de de de der, de de de de der der —I HATE the Archers!’
‘Stop skimming stones! The island’s disappearing!’
'Good news.'
‘I’ve brought you some coffee.’
‘The government’s brought out another report on alcohol.’
‘Gets me from A to B.’
‘Come in, Tom, excuse the mess, I’m just lagging the wife for winter.’
‘Tweet that you’re far too busy to be chillaxing.’
The Great British Bake Off
‘Do you believe in loathe at first sight?’