The only way the circle of net zero can be squared with reliable, carbon-free and cheap supply is by embracing home-grown nuclear power.
Patel’s frustration is understandable, but it would surely just see even more crossings – and her successor offer the cash again.
In tandem with countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France, we should consider a stronger humanitarian-orientated alliance which has teeth.
Doing so won’t get us to the promised land of herd immunity, and may well compromise their immuno-response systems.
It is worth noting the lack of a German, and therefore European, consensus on the foreign policy challenges facing the West, particularly on Russia and China.
European defence budgets only go so far, and ultimately we need the Anglo-American link.
The UK had one of the best vaccine programmes, but it kept its nightclubs closed for longer than France and Germany.
The most important task is the resolution of the constitutional crisis and a return to the normal democratic process.
The importance of having a reliable baseload of firm power remains essential to the energy mix.
Weakening at home and friendless abroad, it finds itself on the back foot – and exposed to its nations’ reliance on EU funds.
The EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator has suggested that France needs a “constitutional shield” to disregard the European Court of Justice.