Head in the clouds

The first reaction of many, will be to say this offers conclusive proof that the Prime Minister's head is in the clouds.

The last thing that this country needs, given the continuing weather chaos, is rockets laden with iodine being fired into the sky to provoke rainfall from passing clouds. Britain already endures too much precipitation, whether it be rain or snow.

Yet, while technology and changing demographics will inevitably change lives, this bizarre list is not going to inspire a new generation of children to train to be scientists.

Being part of the weather modification police does not have the same cache as growing up wanting to be an astronaut. And how does Mr Brown expect multi-storey buildings to be turned into thriving farms when his government has sought to dismantle the agricultural industry over the past 12 years?

All he has done is demonstrate that he does not inhabit the real world – or understand the difficulties facing those people who cannot find work because of a lack of blue-sky thinking on his part.