Hello. Three minutes after ten is the time. How are you? I hope you are flourishing this morning.

We are going to turn our attention shortly to this suggestion by Oliver Dowden that we, Mel Stride

did it first and then Oliver Dowden in his role as Deputy Prime Minister, God save us all,

has doubled down on it. I want to talk about it properly.

I don't know what happens in mornings.

I wonder whether you can tell by my tone or my mood,

which way I'm going to jump.

There would be mornings on which I would now put Mel Stride's face on a metaphorical dartboard

and encourage you to lob projectiles in his direction,

metaphorical projectiles, obviously,

because at first glance, it seems like a patronising and ignorant suggestion.

But on other mornings, it's as if I have an extra gear, and I find myself thinking,

well, perhaps there's a little bit more to it than meets the eye.

And I know what you're thinking. You'll think, oh, I prefer the dartboards, James.

I don't really want to have a gripe. But you don't. Not deep down. Deep, deep, deep down,

you would not be one of the 1.4 million people listening to this program if you didn't prefer

your diet to be a little bit more nourishing than more traditional phone-in fare.

And that is why I am drawn to the idea that perhaps he has a point.

I mean, it's a very arresting opening, isn't it?

Over-50s looking for work should consider delivering takeaways

and other flexible jobs typically occupied by younger people.

Now, I am struck increasingly by how violently out of touch the current generation of Tory politicians seem to be.

...