"We find that our most formidable assailants are the best educated peoples . . . For some time past, whilst we have advanced, they have advanced faster still." Now read this: "To achieve world class prosperity and fairness in the new global economy, the UK must achieve world class skills. Without world class skills, UK businesses will find it increasingly difficult to compete and innovate."

The first quotation comes from a report published in 1884. The second comes from the report by Lord Leitch published this week.* Both reports were produced under the direction of practical businessmen. Both worried about new threats: the former about Germany and the US; the latter about China and India. I owe the first quote to the best discussion I know of the ancient British panic over skills. But I may be biased: its author, Professor Alison Wolf of King's College London, is my wife.**