I actually went on the website, and after searching for some kind of managerial, technical or vocational skill that was being taught on the courses, probably involving study, a written exam and final interview it dawned on me, that that was not being offered at all! What was being offered was the chance to network and possibly get out on the lash at company expensewith some likeminded individuals who realised that being on a work sponsored course with no examination was ten times better than being in the office or House of Commons. Naturally, I've warmed to Common Purpose, it's values, aims and principles, that I can see operate very much at a strategic level where I can hide from all the nitty-gritty, pointy-end tactical stuff, and ideally be incubated from the results of my actions for several years or decades.

Reinforced with the fact that I will be able to "graduate" after a mere week or weekend course, has me hooked. I am especially interested in the complete immersion course, where you go to some exotic city for a weekend and immerse yourself in its local culture and customs. All character building stuff. And at five and half thousand quid, it seems quite reasonable to me, I am sure my HR Dept. will see what I see in this opportunity to reinvigorate my organisation and understanding of the unique culture that is Venice, or New York.

I am very sceptical about any conspiracy theories to be honest, as governments and their agencies are typically to incompetent and negligent to carry them off, as recent events in Rotherham show.

As for Condell, I would like to see him take on a more public role, appear on QT or something similar, not because I necessarily agree with everything he says, but it would be nice to see him have to argue his points under 'pressure'.

If the poor British hostage is killed there will be a fuss about it and RAF jets will take a token part in airstrikes against the militants. I wonder how much will change at home after the initial press outrage?

The Rotherham story has slipped off the front pages, the public have gone back to their iPhones and the doings of the Kardashians. A couple of sacrificial lambs have resigned and the whole thing seems to have died a death. The police commissioner for South Yorkshire is still in his post despite having been impotently called on to resign by the P.M. This has highlighted that, in their rush to create the police commissioners, the government failed to include any way of removing the individual commissioners from their jobs if turned out to be unsuitable or incompetent. What a screw up.

^ It might well have disappeared or been replaced. It was a big deal at the time but fashions change.

It was definitely a major time stealer though.

Yes, I agree completely, as David Cameron informed us only today "Islam is the religion of peace."

This has become the newspeak of our time, after every atrocity, the same mantra is repeated, but nobody's listening Cameron, least of all the Scots, who are going to blow you and your metropolitan centred cronies away next week.

Time to storm the reality studio and splice the tape decks!