One Does Not Neglect a Mansion in Order to Sweep a Hovel

As noted by your correspondent last month, there exist certain environmental catastrophes which are so massive and so severe, and so impudent in afflicting the nice people, that they may on occasion drive even a Conservative parliamentary expenses claimant into paroxysms of virtuous wrath. Thus the vast unauthorised waste dump in Oxfordshire is to be cleared at the taxpayer's expense, while leaving less refined populations in full possession of similar amenities. No action, let alone funding, will be forthcoming from His Majesty's Government; although in compensation we are promised some New Year resolutions which will no doubt prove as durable as most. Meanwhile the Environment Agency is pledged to make "efficiencies in its operations," which usually translates into Oldspeak as sacking people and contracting out to either the cheapest option or the option best equipped to furnish the appropriate kickbacks; so there still remains the possibility that the Oxfordshire clean-up will be down to approximately the same standards as the provinces have come to expect.