As the nights draw in and the country lurches from one crisis to another, you could probably do with a good laugh – recognised as therapeutic in all situations, even when it can only be classed as gallows humour. Since Russell Brand is unlikely to be around to entertain us in the foreseeable future, let us turn instead to a new, unfortunately anonymous, comedian who, apparently with a straight face, produced this rib-tickler two days ago: “HS2 Ltd is committed to controlling costs and takes its responsibility towards value for money very seriously.”