Following the Madeleine Bunting farce, Demos is keen to emphasise the academic credentials of her replacement. Accordingly Demos’s press release announcing the appointment of Catherine Fieschi makes more references to her PhD than if it had been written by the cover designer of a self-help book. It also quotes her reaction to getting the job. Here are her words in full:

We are witnessing the beginnings of the next global shift, with domestic political change compounded by global forces. This will impact on the organisation, aims and terrain of domestic politics and policy making. The challenge for Demos will be to point the way towards negotiating these changes and I look forward to leading the organisation in doing this.

I have instructed my sister to bring legal action against Dr Fieschi for killing my babelfish.