Quote of the day

Simon Hoggart, back to top form in The Guardian (here):

The chancellor, George Osborne, came to give evidence about his traditionalist, slash-and-burn budget to the Commons Treasury committee. This was like a traditionalist doctor appearing in front of the BMA in order to explain why leeches are the best way to heal most illnesses, and how skin rashes can be cured by a poultice made of toad skin and hazel blossom, gathered by virgins at midnight.

Elegant, witty, and making his critique rather more pointed than a thousand articles by learned economists.