Last night I went to hear Richard Wilkinson (again) talk about The Spirit Level, the book he co-authored with Kate Pickett, which has just been published in paperback. He was the guest of the Newham Fabians. The previous night the BBC staged a discussion about the proposed TV debates between the three political leaders ahead of the general election. It occurred to me how much public understanding about inequality and its causes and consequences might improve if the BBC, if not ITV and Sky, were to abandon their current plans and offer Professor Wilkinson and his co-author the opportunity to apply The Spirit Level to Messrs Brown Cameron and Clegg, separately. I asked Professor Wilkinson, before he left, whether he would appreciate the opportunity. After a moment's reflection, he said: "Yes, I'd like that." I would too. I suspect the viewing public would as well. If nothing else it would raise, rather than demean, the level of public debate ahead of the General Election.