• I’M in favour of cynicism up to a point and we have to have our critical faculties about us when we consider politics, but we are in danger of taking things to a point where life becomes hardly worth living.

Most humans I know are selfish, out for themselves, and inconsiderate of others. But the same people are also generous, altruistic and want to make the world a better place. Politicians are no different and many actually get off their bums to do something about it.

All-consuming cynicism is encouraging people to the point where they excuse their unbridled selfishness by saying: “Everybody’s at it. They’re all crooks, so I’m looking after No 1”. What a grim prospect!

EF WILSON
NW1