One wonders who is responsible for strategic decision-making at the Association of MBAs, which recently announced a new speaker for its annual dinner. The event, usually held this month, had to be postponed until February after original speaker, Chris Patten, was forced to pull out at the last minute. The new European commissioner, with a report on policing in Northern Ireland just published, had found other pressing commitments. Luckily, the association managed to find another speaker in good time. Its newsletter reveals him to be none other than "Conservative candidate for mayor of London", Lord Archer.