The second phase of High Speed 2 (HS2) was announced by the Department for Transport in January 2013. The HS2 scheme which will cost the taxpayer around £33 billion will revolutionise travel and slash the time it takes to travel across the country. For example the time it takes to travel by train from Manchester to London Euston is currently around 2 hours and 14 minutes, with HS2 that will be cut to 68 minutes. HS2 is controversial though and critics warn that HS2 will ruin the countryside and that the billions invested on HS2 are better spent elsewhere – particularly with the cuts to public services. Some of those criticisms are rightly justified but there needs to be a way of boosting the economy and getting more businesses to invest in the UK.

The political fireball that is the EU has continued to cause problems for the Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron who has stated that he would prefer Britain to be a member of the European Union but with renegotiation has the support of a minority of Conservatives and most Labour people. But with the rise of UKIP and the Right in his own party, he has a choice – national vs party interest.

As Sir Alex Ferguson steps down from Manchester United after 26 years and an impressive record behind him, it is perhaps time to award him with another high honour – whether it is higher than leading the greatest team in the world is for you to decide. I have had the privilege of meeting Sir Alex – albeit briefly, but what is also clear other than his passion for football, passion for leading and ‘Fergie time’, is also his great interest in politics and supporting those in need.

Yesterday I attended the State Opening of Parliament where Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of Edinburgh announced a series of bills to be put before Parliament. The speech lasted no more than 10 minutes and it would be fair to say that the content was thin on the ground – it lacked any real substance.

The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has hit the headlines this week after criticising bankers. Archbishop Justin Welby, who was an oil executive on a six figure salary, quit the oil industry to become a man of the cloth in 1992 and was enthroned in February 2013, is well placed to criticised senior executives. The Archbishop also serves on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards thus is insightful on banking matters.