Taking the Lords out of London should be just the start

The proposal to relocate the House of Lords to York is harmless enough, though residents of York might disagree. The idea of an upper chamber of philosopher kings to check democratic excitability is sound in principle but when your definition of a philosopher king extends to John Prescott, you begin to question the merits of philosophy. If immediate abolition is too radical for the Tories, let’s punt the peers to the north east, note the inevitable drop-off in attendance and go in for the kill at a later date. But just as important as the de-Londonisation of the state (and the economy) is the de-Londonisation of the intellectual life of the UK.

Conservatives might suppose that, having won the general election against the ‘thought leaders’, they need no longer concern themselves with commentators, policy wonks and academics. But as long as Radio Four has pundit seats needing filled, as long as the same policy wonks dominate ministerial and select committee briefings and as long as a dispiriting 50.2