Reform’s rise speaks to a deep crisis in Establishment parties – but relies on appealing to social and economic grievances the left should make its own, argues NICK WRIGHT

WITH capitalism no longer capable even of putting eggs on supermarket shelves, gardening seed catalogues begin to move from the hobby category to that of survival equipment.
Real Seeds ( www.realseeds.co.uk) have got the idea. Their Low-Waged/Unwaged Seed Pack contains 10 packets of seed, costing £10 including postage. It’s designed for people who are struggling, or involved in growing food for those who are, and is subsidised by sales of the same pack at its full price of £21.
A vegetable which sustained many of our cottage-gardening ancestors, Cottager’s Kale, is unsurprisingly back in fashion, with Dobies ( www.dobies.co.uk; tel 0844 7364209), among others, adding it to their lists this year.

Edinburgh can take great pride in an episode of its history where a murderous captain of the city guard was brought to justice by a righteous crowd — and nobody snitched to Westminster in the aftermath, writes MAT COWARD






