There was a huge protest in Madrid today against the government’s policy in respect of ETA and its ‘permanent ceasefire’. This points up one major difference between the terrorist problems of the UK and Spain. In the latter, the relatives of the victims actually live around the country, not in some province across the water which few on the mainland really care about. Perhaps if an ETA equivalent operated in one of Spain’s African enclaves things would be different but, as it is, the Spanish government is going to face this problematic constituency for some time. Whipped up, of course, by the ‘fascists’ of the PP party.

Which reminds me - The displaced Basque, Aleksu, tells us he and his ilk believe in a modern Europe without borders. This appears to be ETA-speak for an independent region/state which encompasses the current Basque Country, Navarre and part of southern France. So, not so much ‘no borders’ as ‘different borders’. Dream on, my antipodean friend.

The first study done since the anti-smoking law of January this year shows that the level of air-borne nicotine has decreased only 10% in bars where there’s now an adjacent [but not closed-off] no-smoking area and has actually risen by 21% in pubs and discos where there isn’t. There’s speculation the latter development is a reflection of defiance among the young. How depressing.

I’ve said a few times Spain’s economic trends would in the past have merited a devaluation of its currency. An article in one of today’s national papers addressed the question of whether things were now so critical Spain should leave the Euro. Needless to say, the answer was that it shouldn’t but some way really needed to be found to address the problems of high inflation, low productivity and a rapidly deteriorating trade balance. Unfortunately, no one has ever come up with one. So, roll on Armageddon.

England’s truly dismal performance again Paraguay last night got the lacerating treatment it fully deserved in the Spanish press today. Can there really be anyone left in England who believes they can win the World Cup? And is Seven Eriksson taking his revenge cold?