Peter Rhodes on 1,000 years of anti-semitism, the cost of lamb stew and dying for a treat

BUT then it's understandable. Right at the heart of the Labour movement is total, unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and a visceral hatred of international capitalism. If some mischief-maker whispers into the ear of a dedicated young activist that the Zionists are the enemy in both these epic struggles, it can seem to make sense. The 'pockets of anti-semitism' Jeremy Corbyn apologises for today are part of a contagion of blaming the Jews which has infested Europe for more than 1,000 years.

A GLUM report by the World Wide Fund for Nature calculates that making a single portion of Welsh lamb cawl stew causes as much pollution as driving 31 miles, or 5.9 kilograms of greenhouse gases. I don't know how you reacted to this news but it reminded me how long it had been since I'd had a bowl of delicious, thick lamb stew. Stuff the planet, I want my cawl. So that's definitely on the menu for tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder, WWF. Just the occasional treat, you understand.

THE 'just a treat' philosophy can be seen everywhere this week. Yes, of course we want an end to overpackaging with plastic. But not until Easter is over, okay? The supermarket aisles are packed with chocolate eggs framed in single-use black plastic trays, wrapped in foil then wrapped again in more black plastic and see-through plastic, enough to choke a whole colony of turtles. The excuse for this orgy of planet-polluting excess is that Easter comes only once a year and what's the harm with the occasional treat? The same argument is trotted out for Bonfire Night when all our pious words about having air that's fit to breathe vanish into a sulphurous cloud of fireworks and burning pallets. It's just a treat, innit? Like the cupcakes handed out at charity coffee mornings: let's fight cancer by giving everybody diabetes. The problem with the "just a treat" approach is that we want our treats every day of the year. And the more that po-faced experts warn us of the consequences, the more delicious that treat seems.

THE Royal Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary and its chief officer Sir Stephen Hillier is doing the media rounds to promote the event. As we reach a certain age we get used to police, MPs, head teachers and bishops seeming unnaturally youthful. I hadn't noticed until this week that Air Chief Marshals are looking younger.

I WAS reminded of one of Hillier's predecessors who was a guest speaker at my old school in the golden age of the RAF. He reflected on the awesome power of commanding supersonic jets. At his order, a dozen Lightning fighters would be unleashed to the heavens 'like Zeus hurling his thunderbolts'. However, he recalled resignedly that at home with his wife and daughters, 'my orders are merely a basis for discussion'. Down to earth . . .