Public and private spaces impose differing obligations. That statement might seem so obvious as to be otiose. But many people seem to be unaware that the sharing of space necessitates the exercise of a restraint which manifests and nourishes the mutuality without which any concept of society - big or otherwise - is impoverished.

“ 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free”. The Shaker hymn has always been dear to me; not least because its open-spaced and perfectly poised melody makes such a perfect fit with the spirit of the plain, graceful words.

Untruth is not always communicated in outright lies. There is a type of blinkered misapprehension which presents misleading and inauthentic concepts. None of us are immune to this failing and all of us need to keep it under informed scrutiny. But it often seems to come to the fore in politicians in a manner which does at the very least, raise questions as to their judgement and credibility.

Those who have learned their lines as the government intends might think they have been dealt a good, or at least unavoidable budget yesterday. However, many of us are profoundly sceptical of the twin tropes which Messrs Cameron and Osborne have been repeating endlessly in the hope that they will somehow become the backdrop of our thinking.

Eighty years ago, the conflict in Libya would have been glossed over as a “quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing”. In an age of 24 hour news and of media conscious politicians, we are saturated with images, comment and spin. It is essential to be vigilant about the relationship between the authorised version, what its presentation really tells us and – not least – our own responses to it.

What are the distinguishing points of a campaign and a debate? Surely that the former facilitates the latter. It seems that the 'No to AV' grouping haven't quite got that sorted.

Feeling despondent or angry at the decisions of governments is a fairly common occurrence for most of us. But yesterday, I felt ashamed.

Power, its exercise and abuse has filled our screens and newspapers during the last week. The word takes our minds in a particular direction – towards the power that can shut down the internet, buzz protesters with fighter jets, marketise the NHS, sell off our forests, kettle and pepper-spray dissent.

David Cameron's warm words about co-opting churches into plugging the gaps in social provision resulting from his administration's antipathy to the state and the services it provides, have recently taken something of a knock from his own MPs in East Anglia.

Eight year-old Romeo Beckham has been included on GQ magazine's list of the “most stylish men in Britain”. He apparently ranks at number 26, ten places behind his father.