I was unaware I had that honour, although I am the brother of a former Hackney councillor and Parliamentary candidate (if he had taken East Grinstead from Geoffrey Johnson-Smith the revolution would have had to have taken place some time before and the tumbrils done a lot of rolling) and the nephew of a woman who said her life's work would be done when she got 'that Tory bastard' out of Oxford. She survived several years after her success. My paternal grandad would have been our local Parliamentary cabdidate (and, therefore, MP) had he not taken a permanent left turn at the Somme.

Me? I know what a socialist is because I see one every time I look in the mirror. Disappointment and despair I can live with. Giving up is another matter. Had I a flag it would be at half mast today.