There were sideswipes at the Liberal leader, Charles Kennedy, for cavilling at the American call for its allies to back military action.

ECONOMIST: Conservative Party conference: Who said we don't like Europe? | The

He cannot resist making sideswipes at business theorists, telling anecdotes that put him in a heroic light and floating impractical radical ideas (such as loyalty premiums on dividends paid to shareholders as an incentive for long-term investment).

ECONOMIST: Bidder beware | The