Gentleman’s Relish

Lessons in education Sir: I read Michael Gove’s thought-provoking piece (‘Revenge of the Blob’, 29 August) with great interest. It prompted me to reflect on my 26 years’ experience in various teaching and leadership roles in the English education system. This has convinced me that, despite changes of government, political persuasion, and evolving theories of pedagogy and school improvement, two fundamental truths remain constant. First, the quality of teaching makes the single greatest difference to young people’s achievements and, ultimately, their life chances. This is particularly true for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs. Second, the quality of school leadership is fundamental to the ethos, culture and expectations of a school.

Flat broke Sir: John Power’s article on the property squeeze (‘Flatlined’, 18 April) identifies a symptom of a deeper problem, the overregulation of property. Buyers are deterred by spiralling service charges, which are themselves driven by layers of legislation, insurance premium hikes and rocketing labour costs. Those still willing to take the plunge are then hit by a tax system that actively discourages transactions. In the absence of buy-to-let demand, it is no surprise values are dropping. The solution is obvious. Stamp duty, with its crude cliff edges, freezes activity and distorts prices. A landlord or renovator can face £20,000 or more in tax on an entirely ordinary flat, a deterrent by design. This is not a plea for higher prices.

It is the early hours of the morning and an email drops into my inbox. Lacking any kind of willpower, I open it. Now I’m wide awake. Because this isn’t the usual PR slop that starts my days. It’s a tip-off. A big one. A reader has discovered something about a company and they are urging me – me! – to investigate. Adrenaline surges. This must be what it felt like to be Woodward. Or Bernstein. Only my informant is pointing me in a slightly different direction. Their intel is on Gentleman’s Relish: the incredibly niche spread is disappearing from our shelves. It has been available in the House of Lords dining rooms – but for how much longer? Online supermarkets and delis are showing it as out of stock. What is going on?