The Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister’s office spent £50,000 on flowers during six months of last year according to BBC Radio Four. In 1997, Western Europe imported $6 billion of floricultural proiducts from Africa, according to the latest figures I could easily track down. The figures are certainly much higher now as this has recently been a fast growing sector of African exports.

I wonder what percentage of Mr Prescott’s flower bill represents blooms imported from Africa? I wonder how much food for African’s could have have been grown on the land committed to beautifying his office? I wonder how many people could have lived from that food? I wonder how many people have died for lack of it? I wonder of Mr Prescott sees the death his floricultural abundance reaps?

We live in a complex world and I can easily be accused of being simplistic. But at the same time we live in a simple world, overcomplicated by egotistic needs for beautification at the expense of life.