The subject of inequality despite being as old as the hills seems to have suddenly excited think-tanks in the past few weeks, perhaps in anticipation of a new Prime Minister actually trying to do something about it.

First, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) announced an ambitious five-year study into ‘inequalities in the 21st century' funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Last week, the ubiquitous Lord Kerslake – chair of the UK2070 commission on regional inequality – launched his study, which proposed a £250bn ‘national renewal fund' to restore the balance between wealthy London and the South East and the others.