In 2011, the man who had presided over this fiasco as head of the RPA, Tony Cooper, was paid £311,000 to take early retirement (plus a pension pot of £1.3 million). Another £47 million was given to other RPA officials to retire likewise. Altogether it was a perfect vignette of how we are now governed. And all our politicians can do is scream abuse at the other side until it is time for them to take the reins – and preside over the next shambles.