Comparing apples and oranges. And also small caged mammals
A biography of the British basket of goods

Cod-liver oil (1947-51), mercifully, passed away swiftly. Liver (1947-98) lasted a little longer. Avocados didn’t arrive until 1993—but have thrived since then.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Basket case ”
Britain
March 22nd 2025- Why British spooks are reaching out to the private sector
- The thinking behind Labour’s benefits cuts
- ZOE, a British personal-nutrition app, is growing fast
- Comparing apples and oranges. And also small caged mammals
- A Northern Irish factory has a deal to make missiles for Ukraine
- Why apprenticeships are so rare in Britain
- The British state has a bad case of long covid

From the March 22nd 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
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In praise of flag-shagging
To govern Britain, it helps to like it

How Britain decides which drugs to buy
The NHS can’t afford all the latest miracle drugs. A quango decides who misses out

Are hits like “Adolescence” good or bad for Britain?
Commissions by streaming services are a mixed blessing for British production companies
The splintering of British politics
Nine months into power, the Labour Party has haemorrhaged support
Birmingham’s bin strikes reveal local problems—and a national one
Rubbish policy and rubbish on the streets
Britain’s government has entered the steel industry with no plan
Even its strongest argument, national security, needs closer scrutiny