As Mr Al Fayed learned when he sought British citizenship, and Man U's Irishmen did when they quarrelled with the club's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, last winter, local acceptance does not come easy.

ECONOMIST: Football

The markets were chosen for several reasons including current hybrid purchasing trends, the acceptance of electric vehicle technology by local governments and the potential to collaborate with utility companies.

FORBES: Ford Focus Electric To Roll Out In 19 U.S. Cities Late 2011

More tantalising yet for the Lib Dems was the prospect of Labour acceptance that proportional representation should be used for local council elections.

ECONOMIST: From now on, Britain will have to get used to coalitions