Daily catch-up: Top 10 leaders who faced each other in the Commons but not at elections

A round-up of matters of political and related importance that caught our commentator's eye

Another fine cartoon by Jake Goretzki.

µ For no good reason yesterday, except that George Eaton wrote an article for the New Statesman headed "Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron won’t face each other in 2020 – but who will fall first?", David Mills asked for a list of leaders who faced each other across despatch box but not at an election.

Simon Tilbrook came up with a list of 10, working backwards:

Blair/Cameron

Blair/IDS

Major/Smith

Wilson/Thatcher

Macmillan/Wilson

Eden/Gaitskell

Chamberlain/Attlee

Baldwin/Lansbury

MacDonald/Lansbury

Asquith/Bonar Law

Kevin Meagher asked if Cameron has a post-war record in facing off against four Labour leaders? Mr Memory ‏pointed out that Harold Wilson faced four Conservative leaders and Tony Blair faced five.

µ Tom Peck, the Independent's sketch-writer, excelled himself yesterday, about Jeremy Corbyn's speech to the British Chamber of Commerce, on a conveyor belt and in a lift.

µ Daniel Sleat asks Jeremy Corbyn: what is Britain's place in Europe and the world?

µ An economist's argument for leaving the EU. Ashoka Mody, former deputy director of the IMF's European and Research Departments says:

The economic principles are clear. Trade with a particular country or group of countries brings no special dividends. Indeed, a leading trade theorist, Columbia’s Jagdish Bhagwati, has repeatedly warned that preferential trade arrangements hurt rather than help.

He backs Boris: "British citizens may well vote to remain in the European Union, but atrophy of European institutions will continue and Johnson is likely to win history’s verdict."

µ A YouGov survey published yesterday contradicts what everyone knows about politics: that older people tend to be more conservative politically, and that conservatives tend to take a less idealistic view of human nature.

Older people in Britain and America have a rosier view of human nature

µ And finally, thanks to Chris Heaton-Harris for this:

"Athletics is ruining adult literacy. Discus."

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