IT took them a long time. They remained hidden in the woodwork for the best part of two years. But the Loony Left are back in business again, their beady eyes blinking in the daylight as they search for prey.

Now my regular reader (thanks a bunch, Mrs C) knows that, in general, this column does not have much time for politicians.

So far, I have not said much about President Tony because, by and large, he seems to be doing less harm than many of his predecessors. But it seems even Our Tone, despite his huge majority, still feels it necessary to cast the odd sop to the social engineers, as the Loony Left prefer to be called.

For instance, they have cooked up a scheme which, if it comes to fruition, will mean the destruction of our few remaining grammar schools and the centuries of excellence they represent.

The anti-road lobby, consisting almost entirely of town-based people who can hop onto a tube or a bus on their front doorstep, have brought about slashing cuts in the road building programme which will leave hundreds of rural villages without the by-passes they have been promised for years.

Plus, of course, swingeing increases in fuel and road fund taxes which will add huge sums to all the goods that have to be delivered to the countryside.

Now they announce their latest ploy to stamp on the throat of traditional English life as it lies gasping for breath at the wayside: a ban on compulsory team games for school kids over the age of14.

The people who dreamt up this idea were probably attending their Workers' Socialist Party prefects' committee when, in the countryside, our youngsters were playing rugby, cricket, soccer or hockey.

Some of those players undoubtedly hated organised games. They probably hated maths and English and science, too, but no-one suggests that these are not desirable pre-requisites for adult life.

The point about team games is that they foster team spirit, the ability to work together under tough, even arduous, conditions for the good of the whole. Once upon a time, this nation was very good at such things.

Once upon a time, also, we ran the biggest Empire history will ever see. I am quite sure that the two were inter-connected.

From time to time, we all have to do things we don't like to do to clear life's hurdles in reasonable style. If we do take a tumble, most of us pick ourselves up and have another go.

These are the disciplines instilled by team games. Abandoning them is just another step towards producing a horde of self-centred young adults taught to dodge the difficult decisions on life whilst relentlessly pursuing self-interest at the expense of any "team" they happen to be associated with: family, friends, neighbours or fellow-workers.

This summer, the world cricket cup is in England. This autumn, the world rugby cup is in Wales. Two great team games given to the world by the nation that led the world. What, I wonder, will we give this world in future?

PS: The 4x4 Mud Manglers are expected back in Beggarsdale at the weekend. Plans are afoot to give them a good game. Match report next week.

* The Curmudgeon is a satirical column based on a fictitious character in a mythical village.

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