[Alligator photo by Matthew Field, reproduced under the GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version]

This morning, at 08.10 BST, there was an excellent discussion on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme between veteran pollster, Sir Robert (Bob) Worcester, and a leading local government expert, Professor Tony Travers, on why white working class voters now seem to be deserting the Labour Party in droves, as exemplified in Thursday’s Crewe and Nantwich By-election, at which the Conservatives overturned a 7,000 Labour majority to win by 7,860 votes on a remarkable 17.6% swing [you can listen to the 5-minute exchange here].

When asked why this social group, one normally comprising solid Labour supporters, is not wooed by more metro-middle class ‘Guardianista’ Labour policies, such as those on the environment and ‘global warming’, Bob Worcester turned to what he called his ‘Alligator Principle’ - that is, when you are surrounded by alligators, you are not going to be interested in abstract ideas like ‘global warming’. This is a brilliant image, for you can just see all those alligators, with their wide-open, toothy gapes, waiting to pounce: increased food costs; increased transport costs; restricted borrowing at punitive rates; house re-possessions; worries over pensions; difficulties in choosing schools - the voracious reptiles are legion.

But the biggest alligator of them all is surely stalking Labour itself, for, without these voters, it will be gobbled up, and be out of power before you can say “Old Croc”.

Investors Beware Too

Yet, it isn’t just the working class who must beware the foetid alligator swamp, as Nigel Lawson (Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer from June 1983 to October 1989) points out in an excellent article in Time magazine [‘What’s Green and Goes Pop?’, Time, May 21]. Lawson wisely warns investors that the next big economic bubble likely to go ‘pop’ is “... a green bubble, fueled by climate-change alarmism and government subsidies.” It appears that the lurking alligators are equally keen on bursting this ephemeral green bubble:

“The twin elements of a bubble are euphoria and roguery, with the proportions varying from case to case. The coming green bubble, which is already attracting large amounts of venture capital and government money, displays both ...”

But, “... in today’s harsher economic climate, governments are more likely to look for ways to scale back subsidies for renewable energy than to boost them. Nor are voters likely to be willing to pay the larger energy bills that ‘green’ policies demand.

All the more so since there is compelling evidence that no global warming is currently occurring...”

In consequence, Lawson’s advice to investors is simple:

“... my advice to would-be investors is this: make sure you get out before the bubble bursts.”

Just so.

I now believe it will not be long before, to employ Bob Worcester’s snappy principle, ‘global warming’ is thrown to the alligators and the crocodiles.

“Hey mate, a nice game of snap would be great this evening over a few tinnies!”