This is often the case with international students who travel to countries which speak the same language - they find the culture shock takes longer to build up. However, one thing Simon did find was that America is a much less cynical place than Europe, which he says, can at times be frustrating but is also rather inspiring.

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"The truth is that right now most high street lenders want to limit new lending, in fact they want to deleverage their balance sheets. Help to Buy may on the face of it appear attractive to the first or second-time buyer, but many lenders probably won't take it up, and if you look at the pricing of products hitting the market, those who have committed so far have priced their products unattractively. Such high pricing will dampen enthusiasm for the scheme."

He told NBC News: "[This] will lift a huge burden off the men who are suffering right now.

That bit about "I was never part of this" is another of those cock crowing moments like the one when Ed Balls about "Mr" McBride's "political work". Speaking of Mr Balls, Sue Cameron has a telling detail on in her FT column today: