https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/05/john-bercow-peerage-scandal-black-rod-david-leakey

"Giving John Bercow a peerage would be a scandal that parliament would struggle to live down, according to the man accusing the former Speaker of bullying and explosive behaviour.

Lt Gen David Leakey, who served in the role of Black Rod for seven years, told the BBC that Bercow’s nomination for a peerage by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was inappropriate because of his behaviour towards staff members.

Bercow vehemently denies he bullied Leakey, claiming the pair did not work closely together and questioning the timing of him making the allegations."

Common sense is more popular than HS2

https://order-order.com/2020/02/05/50-transport-infrastructure-projects-cost-effective-hs2/

For those (like me) previously unaware of Wuhan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China-EU_Institute_for_Clean_and_Renewable_Energy
"The China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy at Huazhong University of Science & Technology (CE-ICARE; is an education and research institute located in Wuhan, China, created in July 2010 and hosted in Huazhong University of Science and Technology. ICARE is the third Sino-European institute being created in China after the China-EU International Business School [1] in Shanghai in 1994 (as China-EC Management Institute) and the China-EU School of Law[2] in Beijing in 2008. ICARE project has a 5-year funding from EU and Chinese government."

"The creation of ICARE follows an agreement signed in 2009 by European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Chinese Minister for Foreign Trade GAO Hucheng in the frame of the collaboration between China and Europe for environmental protection and climate change mitigation."

https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-which-companies-shut-down-operations-move-employees-2020-1?r=US&IR=T
" Companies including McDonald's, Ikea, and French carmakers Peugeot Citroen and Renault are temporarily shutting down operations and evacuating employees from the area."

Better to use cheap and nasty stone tools for routine tasks.

Feb 5, 2020 at 10:56 AM AK

I think you are correct! Decent iron required charcoal and subsequently coal. Southern England has never been rich on coal, but has an abundance of flints.

Obviously people from Cornwall will point to their involvement in the Mediterranean Arms Trade:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Cornwall_and_Devon
Stone Age and early Bronze Age
"Tin is one of the earliest metals to have been exploited in Britain. Chalcolithic metal workers discovered that by putting a small proportion of tin (5 – 20%) in molten copper, the alloy bronze was produced. The alloy is harder than copper. The oldest production of tin-bronze is in Turkey about 3500 BC, but exploitation of the tin resources in Britain is believed to have started before 2000 BC,[7] with a thriving tin trade developing with the civilisations of the Mediterranean. The strategic importance of tin in forging bronze weapons brought the south west of Britain into the Mediterranean economy at an early date. Later tin was also used in the production of pewter."

The Hydrogenesis is sitting growing algae in Bristol Docks with a "For Sale"sticker fading away on it. £2000 a day in operation.... and about 20 punters...

Feb 5, 2020 at 9:37 AM tomo

With all that glass, why not convert it into a floating tomato growing greenhouse? Bristol Council could get something back for the residents they took the money from.

GC "Iron Age Man presumably used iron tools to cut down trees...."
Perhaps I'm wrong but it was my understanding that Iron age man probably wouldn't have been able to afford to use iron tools to do jobs as mundane as cutting down trees, they probably were still using stone. Iron was reserved for ceremonial goods or, especially, the military. Iron swords were highly valued, as shown by their use in burials or as gifts to the gods.
Certainly before tempered steel was invented, iron tools would relatively easily blunt and deform. Better to use cheap and nasty stone tools for routine tasks.