Doing your own dentistry

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw claims there’s no need for anyone to resort to pulling their own teeth out, while if they need urgent dentistry they can just demand treatment from their GP.

Why do we keep electing out-of-touch, cosily insulated twits like this into office?

Mr Bradshaw, along with the other members of the political class, undoubtedly has access to private dentistry thanks to his ministerial income, buoyed by a long list of parliamentary perks.

We can’t ignore the environmental taboo

I wrote yesterday that personal over-consumption of resources and indulgent lifestyles are among the causes of climate change, but they are only part of the problem and reduced personal consumption is only part of the solution - even if a crucial one.

There is another, even more serious underlying cause to climate change, and indeed to all forms of pollution, environmental degradation and resource depletion.

It’s a fundamental issue that is carefully stepped around by most environmental scientists, commentators and activists, and one that’s actively buried by religious groups, social activist campaigners and politicians, all of whom regard it as taboo.