Instead, the House passed a bill that failed to cut subsidies significantly and bought off potential opposition from urban Democrats with spending on a range of social and environmental programmes.

ECONOMIST: The farm bill

It has mechanisms to that end, and every quarter the Bank of Spain publishes each region's accounts, potential ammunition for its opposition parties.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Spain

Devon County Council and Natural England have been keen to undertake work but there have been various obstacles, including landowner opposition and potential costs of compensation.

BBC: Two steps forward, one back