WE all know the world car manufacturing industry is in an abominable state at the moment, but was there really any need to illustrate that fact with a hairy snowman?

The picture, below, taken at the recent Geneva Motor Show where the new Mini John Cooper Works car was unveiled to the world, caught our eye.

If you can suggest a suitably pithy caption, get in touch on the address below.

* * * *

WHILE ITV sheds jobs and Oxford-based detective drama Lewis looks like becoming the latest victim of the recession, an interesting solution was suggested yesterday by Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, the shadow arts minister.

“Consolidation is all the rage”, he spluttered on Sky News at the possibility of ITV merging with Channel Four and Five.

There was even talk of ITV sharing office space with the BBC, in an attempt to reduce running costs and save regional news programmes.

Heavens above. Somehow we can’t think Michael Grade will agree to that one.

* * * *

SOMETIMES there is a certain humour in individuals talking about certain subjects.

Take car-loving Keith Mitchell and trains, for example.

This week he waxed lyrical about the possibility of train companies having to reduce fares by virtue of the fact prices were linked to inflation.

The Oxfordshire County Council leader, who owns a BMW Z3, said: “Chiltern Railways operate through Banbury, Bicester and Thame in Oxfordshire and beyond to Birmingham and London Marylebone – and we are lucky to have them. They are widely acclaimed as one of the best, if not the best, rail operating company in the UK.

“So, if Chiltern can do it, why can’t the others? I think there needs to be a sharp change of attitude in some parts of the rail industry.”

And he has good point.

But is this the same Mr Mitchell who once dismissed Oxford’s annual car-free day as “silly tokenism”.

If so, Mr Mitchell talking about the state of the railways is rather like Gordon Brown lecturing about how to get ahead in the polls.

* * * *

IS it only us that thinks Labour has lost all sense of what it really stands for? Presumably posties at the soon to be scrapped Oxford Mail Centre in Cowley would agree. On the one hand Labour buys Royal Bank of Scotland, then seriously considers selling part of the, admittedly woefully-performing, Royal Mail.

What is all that about?

Talk about a sue-fire vote loser.