...Contd. from Home Page

It is not that you are certain that this or any other hypothesis is true but you do find yourself questioning what our political class and “legacy” media tell us. It is not a matter of vying to discover the “truth”, slippery as we know it to be, it is more a natural inclination to make sense of key facts. A critical-thinking population, one that discusses why some political positions and policies are baffling, is the best way to promote the interests of us all, not just the few.

The other unwanted partner to high energy prices is rising food prices due to the increased cost of transportation, fertilisers and other agrochemicals. Some goods that can easily be grown in the UK, like apples and potatoes, are shipped to our shores from countries thousands of miles away at significant fuel and environmental costs. Many people have become more aware and concerned about this and are buying much of their food from local farmers’ markets and from niche online shops. But these options are not as cheap as you might think and so most of us continue, often against our inclination, to shop at the big supermarkets where fruit, vegetables and meat continue to be bagged or vacuum-packed in plastic. We would do well to re-introduce what used to be on our doorstep: Continental-style food markets with their huge array of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, beef, lamb, pork, chicken and much else. This model of food shopping naturally promotes the growth of small-holdings and it might encourage the green-fingered among those now working remotely outside of cities to give it a go.