Politics Editorials

To the theocratic leadership of Iran, whose mullahs have spent the past 28 years limiting the role of women in politics and society, what could be more challenging than a strong, articulate, charismatic and intelligent woman?

"It looks like those people just forgot that they are management, rather than a group of bandits who captured the company. And this management is hired and can be fired, and completely forgot about it," said Andrei Illarionov. "This is an absolutely inappropriate, vulgar and boorish attitude."

One player is 64. Others are getting on for 20 stone. But Lawrie McMenemy out-thinks the opposition and inspires optimism. We can score, we can win, even if they're Beckenbaur and we're Perry Groves.

The affair marks the beginning of a sustained crusade by Kroes to crack the power of the monopolistic barons and their political friends, just as Margaret Thatcher brought the unions and the mineworkers to their knees, after they had humiliated a previous Tory government. It took years to achieve, but nobody should underestimate the determination of a woman on a revenge mission.