TS took a trip to think tank Politeia for lunch to hear Prof Deepak Lal make an argument for a flat tax. Here’s his thinking. Brits are too dependent on state handouts, which means the Treasury spends too much and the best solution is a flat tax.

August parliamentarian Edward Leigh, chairman of the Public Accountants Committee attended, though turned up late, and was eventually asked for his view. ‘I agree with everything Deepak said,’ he says, ‘and that’s why I have no influence at Westminster.’

He got a laugh, and TS has to admit he’s probably right ­ after all, Gordon’s big government is unlikely to disappear any time soon. But if that means we can continue to hear Leigh dishing out verbals in PAC meetings, then that’s fine by TS.