Peter Rhodes on controlling cats, micro-managing dates and a puzzling question about a voice coach

It may seem a bit extreme but lots of these kids are desperately frightened of accidentally doing something quite unspeakable and unpardonable. Such as kissing a Tory.

It seems that fears of cats being outlawed in Scotland have been greatly exaggerated. Earlier this week reports appeared suggesting that the Scottish parliament was about to ban moggies from some parts of the country to protect wildlife from disease or from being eaten. As the wee, tim'rous beasties of the Highlands, the mice, voles and red squirrels, now breathe a collective squeak of relief, the politicians explain that they were presented with a report by wildlife experts proposing moggie bans but will not be acting on it. Turns out that the idea originated in Australia where some cats are banned from leaving their houses at night.

That may strike British cat owners as a draconian solution but then Australia, for all its cool, laidback image, is a pretty strict sort of place. It was a great son of Oz, Clive James, who observed: “The problem with Australians is not that so many of them are descended from convicts, but that so many of them are descended from prison officers.”

At the urging of City bosses, Rachel Reeves is said to be considering the future of zero-risk cash ISAs to persuade people to invest in higher risk schemes and thus revive the economy. It's not surprising. During the coronavirus pandemic, Brits bunged an extra £150 billion into savings and ever since then, the Exchequer has been desperate to get its hands on it. But one of the most basic human rights is the right not to take risks. So tell you what, Chancellor. You look after your money and we'll look after ours.