Also appearing before the committee of MPs, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education David Bell said the errors made by officials had put Mr Gove in a "invidious position".

BBC: Education committee

Financial firms are not exactly loved by the public: foreclosing on a mortgage is far more invidious than slow service at the checkout.

ECONOMIST: Supermarket banking

Especially invidious is the fact that inflation hits lower-income earners disproportionately hard, as they spend a higher percentage of their income on fuel, electricity and other necessities.

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