So the Probation Service is drowning in paperwork and spend 75% of their time in meetings. Where is the news in this? The whole country has been choked by the creation of paper trails, box ticking and pointless meetings instead of getting out there and doing useful stuff, exercising discretion. Why? Because under the last government we were needlessly over-regulated every time there was a problem and have ended up after 10 years in a climate of fear because due process was not followed. Bring back individuality creativity and common sense.

So the humble cheque is to stay. I never understood why they sought to abolish cheques but replace with a different means of payment that was similar. Sounded more like change for the sake of change. As a trustee of several charities it worried me quite a bit but was equally worrying for me as a champion of SMEs. Of course usage was falling as electronic methods become more widely available but it looked to me like a cost saving exercise. At least the banks had the good grace to admit they got it wrong. Perhaps in another generation they can revisit the subject but if I were a bank I would concentrate on giving good service and avoiding going bust.

According to a Daily Telegraph report, 1 in 3 FD’s fear a double dip recession. At this FD it was forecast by yours truly some time ago. It’s not rocket science to work out that things are not improving. Look at the housing market, look at rising living costs, petrol prices etc.Continued low interest rates are a sure sign of a sick patient and the Bank of England is a very worried doctor. So what’s the answer? Simple – there isn’t one. Until the debt hangover is reduced keep your hatches battened down is the best advice I can offer you.

So News of the World has fallen upon its sword. Typical cynical marketing ploy by a media baron. The perplexing thing about the public outrage is that 8 million people purchased it every week, effectively goading it on to provide them with a weekly diet of banal trash. I do not condone the newspaper for a moment but what is the difference between what it has done and members of a street gang who cheer and encourage one of their number to knife an innocent passer-by? They are all in the dock together. With News of the World it’s all about supply and demand isn’t it? Somebody wants to read it. If the readers boycott the final edition it’ll be the icing on the cake of hypocrisy. I wonder if the Observer’s sales will go up…