Peter Rhodes on hospitals, civil war and what to do when the magic money tree runs out

The most worrying part of Charlie Kirk's assassination was that the alleged sniper, having killed the political influencer, simply went home where, it seems, his father persuaded him to give himself up. In other words, the shooter had no escape strategy, which suggests he had no fear of the law or of any consequences, including Utah's death penalty. The most dangerous enemy is the one who is not afraid to die. As any jihadist will tell you.

Elon Musk's dire warnings of Britain plunging into civil war reveal a man who knows little about Britain or the British and yet feels qualified to pontificate on the state of our nation: “Violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.”

Like so many pundits and politicians, Musk focuses on the rage of a few hundred people lobbing lager cans in London but totally overlooks Britain's vast reserves of decency and goodwill which make this nation one of the best places in the world to live, no matter what your colour or creed. Musk, the boss of Tesla, is one of the brightest and most visionary men of our page. But he is also a reminder that it is perfectly possible for someone to be, at the same time, both a genius and a clot. The trouble is, the clots always seem to get the megaphones.

I had a minor procedure at hospital this week, the first for years. Some things never change. I can report, for example, that the standard NHS rear-opening hospital gown still provides 100 per cent cover, thus protecting your decency, privacy and dignity at all times. Only kidding.