Has Peppa Pig changed political sides?

Red Peppa?

In a rambling speech to the CBI, Boris Johnson praised Peppa Pig. Has she changed political sides? Peppa featured in advertising for New Labour’s Sure Start centres, and was booked to appear at the launch of Labour’s manifesto on families for the 2010 general election. However, her makers, E1 Entertainment, withdrew her at the last moment so as not to appear partisan. Lord Mandelson accused the BBC of being behind the move, suggesting the corporation was acting out of spite because Peppa was a star on rival Channel 5.

Back on track

Regular train services returned to Okehampton in Devon 49 years after the route was closed in the cuts proposed by British Rail chairman Richard Beeching.

— The rail network reached its peak in 1914 when 20,000 miles of line were open.

— By 1963, the year of Beeching’s report, there were 17,500 route miles left.

— This was then reduced to 11,000 route miles by 1975.