WORCESTER has suffered a huge decline in manufacturing in recent years. The virtual extinction of the porcelain trade is yet another body blow to a city that once provided a vast array of quality products.

There must now be very few people who can recall the heyday of the leather business, let alone those who actually worked in it.

Everything now seems to be pinned to this notion of Worcester becoming a centre of learning. It may well happen – but the politicians are cynically deceiving everyone when they pretend that this will bring about the muchneeded renaissance.

For there can be no wealth for anyone unless people start to make things again. This is the only wellspring of prosperity – it does not flow from supermarket jobs, pompous posts in local government, consultants, solicitors or any other of the statecreated positions that have multiplied over the last decade.

If we carry on as at present, government will have nothing left to tax.

And then the meltdown will really start…