Restoring health in the housing market after its dramatic collapse was never going to be easy.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Escaping from a mess is never easy, as the government has found to its cost with the Child Support Agency.

ECONOMIST: Asylum

To be clear, however, even 30 years ago, before banks became quite as big and global as HSBC, it was never easy for the authorities to strip a bank of its licence.

BBC: Are some banks too big to jail?

Even if he can strike more deals never easy with such family firms as Bacardi Diageo will be hard to catch, as its sales are four times Allied's.

ECONOMIST: Face value: The mixer | The