As I’ve said, there’s strong opposition in the UK to the introduction of identity cards. It’s a complex issue, of course, but one of the reasons is that Britons associate them with a police state. So, it must have come as a shock to them to learn today that the UK police have DNA samples for more than 5% of the population. This is the most of any country in the world, with the USA second at only 1%. Spain’s percentage is 0.01 and Portugal’s 0.0. I doubt any of us would believe this merely reflects greater police efficiency in the UK. And some would see it as further evidence of the illiberalism of the Blair government.

The UK is a far more safety conscious [or risk averse] place than, say, Spain. Indeed, no one who’s been in business in Britain can be in any doubt as to the reach of the Health and Safety Executive. This, it seems, is run by people who won’t be satisfied until there are no risks whatsoever to life in the UK. Needless to say, the intensity of their view reflects the fact their job security depends upon it. The latest example of the resulting insanity is that people are being told to take the tops off water bottles they’re taking into football grounds ‘in case they’re thrown to the ground and someone slips on them.’ My younger daughter suggests it’s really because this makes it harder to throw full bottles at the referee.

Back to Spain tomorrow. Ryanair permitting.