Even if we have to grit our teeth, we are usually prepared for the trite messages that come out at this time of year from the Queen, the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and so on.

We can even take the creation of a few more saints.

What we are unprepared for is Michael Howard's sanctimoniously titled "Credo" listing his "15 points of belief".

Even God only managed Ten Commandments.

-Michael Fisher, Brighton