Are lager, football and fast cars on the way out in Britain? There was further confirmation this week that the circulations of “lads” magazines such as Nuts, FHM, Loaded, Maxim, Stuff and Zoo are on the slide. UK beer sales are in decline and football is not as cool as it once was.

This would seem to confirm the Midas touch currently enjoyed by the Conservative party. Last week, Michael Gove, the Tory education spokesman, claimed they encourage irresponsible behaviour. This week, we find out that they are in decline. But is lad culture really on its way out, or just the magazines?