I kind of agree with a lot of this, though I do believe that to some degree the UK has a global responsibility, as well as a national one, given the increasingly global nature of politics - Which is odd given that I don't actually really subscribe to notions of National Identity and Nationalism, the reality is that representation must first and foremost be to the electorate, and not unelected interest groups, business or lobbyists etc.

A part of the problem with the right wing politics (including New Labour) has been to increasingly rely on third party influence, especially corporate and lobby interests on policy, over the electorate, and couple this with a reduction of the responsibility of state to its citizens, tax paying or otherwise, to charities - which have increasingly gained political power and status (even if its a 'good cause').

Take homelessness (for the left) increasingly this was something the state provided provision for through charitable organisations - when the responsibility for citizen welfare is a responsibility of the state - not business or charities. Similarly, the right has seen privatisation as a means of providing 'essential functions of state' (prisons, utilities).

In doing so, this has abdicated the 'social contract' between citizens and state, to unelected and largely unaccountable, third parties, who have as such increased their political influence beyond that of the electorate.

Someone at the BBC is in tick box heaven with this new line up!

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That is "tick box heaven". I am really looking forward to the show now. It could actually be better. Great looking line up.

My brother had told me that Chris Evans was saying that he didn't want other presenters on the show. He is obviously not in the know.

I can't wait.

I think it could work with the extra two but as you say, I'm sure that they will see how it goes.

Top Gear was one of the few programmes that I actually used to look forward to watching but it had become a bit stuck imo, even before the problems with JC.

I like Matt LeBlanc, he is great in "Episodes" on the BBC as himself and Sabine is a proper car girlie.

I will be tuning in anyway as I lurve cars...