“I believe he has ideas about becoming a Scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous.”

An Eton biology teacher’s view of John Gurdon in a 1949 school report. Sir John won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine this week.

“Only 12 per cent of people are net contributors, where the taxes they pay outweigh the benefits they receive through public spending.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at this week’s party conference in Birmingham. She was unsure whether her #163;54,000 Holyrood salary made her a “net contributor”.