In this unprecedented time in British politics, what do David Cameron and Nick Clegg need to ensure their talks over forming the next government are fruitful? Obviously, they need plenty of open-mindedness, support from their respective parties and from the civil service. But most importantly they need coffee!
It’s long been debated whether coffee actually makes you smarter. Scientific studies have shown that a cup of coffee can temporarily improve: focus, alertness and short-term memory. But perhaps more importantly, history has shown that coffee houses are a breeding grown for innovation. Many geniuses frequented coffee houses and many coffee houses evolved into national institutions.
Top 5 Famous Coffee Houses
- 1. Lloyds Coffee House – where Lloyds of London (world’s leading insurance specialists) began.
- 2. Jonathan’s Coffee House – where the London Stock Exchange began.
- 3. Café Foy – where the French Revolution started.
- 4. The Green Dragon – where the Boston Tea Party was planned.
- 5. Tontine Coffee House – an early incarnation of the New York Stock Exchange.
Maybe if Cameron and Clegg held meetings in a coffee house it might inspire them to start a revolution on the voting system and give them enough fiscal insight to decipher a budget for economic growth. Does anyone know whether you can get good coffee in the House of Commons?
Staying Awake
Clearly, the deal between the two parties may take a while to thrash out. So Cameron and Clegg can expect a few weeks of sleepless nights. Maggie Thatcher famously only slept for 4 hours a night when she was PM. If they want to go one better than her, they could take a leaf out of Honoré de Balzac (a prolific French writer) book (excuse the pun), who allegedly drank over 60 cups of coffee a day and only slept 2 hours a night. How he found time to write anything, in between making coffee and emptying his bladder is a mystery!
