The current debate on the future role of gas is much more than just that. It may signal the beginning of the end of the current UK policy strategy on energy and climate change.

Lower gas prices could speed up the EU's economic recovery and facilitate the growth of European gas demand. This will also benefit Russian gas producers. Hence, political manoeuvrings in the Kremlin's corridors of power could determine whether Russia will choose gas volumes over prices.

Using more gas is not only consistent with our green objectives, it reinforces them.

Above all, now and forever, we need farming that can supply everyone in the world with food of the highest standards, without wrecking the rest of the world.

The race is already on to tell the big story about the News of the World / News International scandal. For a whole class of the commentariat, this is the moment either to fit the story into their continuing narrative, with a sort of "I told you so" tone to it; or, maybe rather more interestingly, when "I told you so" would be a stretch, to shift to some degree the story they are telling.