These days, Mark Thomas is as much political activist as he is comedian. He has already toured the country with this show under the title ‘It’s the Stupid Economy’. At each show the audience are encouraged to write down their policies to improve the state of the nation, these are then discussed in the show and each audience votes in one policy which will make it on the manifesto which Thomas is then committed to actually try and implement. Mark also tells us of some policies which have come from previous shows and action that has been taken so far – this includes protesting at the Daily Mail, trying to initiate an ‘Open House’ policy on MPs second homes, and campaigning outside the MoD for them to invade Jersey! The policies which were shortlisted at the show I went to were for all pavements to have fast and slow lanes, for anywhere that serves UHT milk to be obliged to charge 1970’s prices, and perhaps more sensibly, the one that was voted in; all MPs second homes and assets should be returned to the state at the end of their term of office. Mark Thomas is so passionate about his subject that he has even been arrested in the course of his protesting. This is serious stuff that affects us all, and yet more importantly for what is after all billed as a comedy show, Mark Thomas manages to make it simultaneously informative, entertaining and hilarious. I think everyone should go to a Mark Thomas show and if each person comes away with just a 10th of the enthusiasm and passion shown by Thomas then we might be able to save the nation after all.   *****