Gosling's Grouse: Down and out in Parris

‘We in the overindulgent, overspent West are living beyond our means. We must live less well or work harder.' So wrote The Times' columnist Matthew Parris back in September.

His piece was headlined: Hard times: prepare to be 25 per cent poorer, and came after the riots of August, which were apparently partly inspired by the ‘alienation’ of some communities from the consumer society we live in. We learned from some of the evidence that came out last week that some rioters felt completely cut off from society because they cannot afford iPhones or Religion jeans. Now I must admit I had never even heard of ‘Religion’ as a brand but when I found out they cost 300 quid a pair I realised why. Who the hell would pay 300 quid for a pair of jeans – besides a Premiersh...