The X factor

I struggled to clip my son into his car seat. My mind was wandering to memories of being squashed in the boot as my father sped down the motorway. “Dad, you know that you can get cash for gold?” “Really!” I made yet another mental note to stop him watching television with his older brothers. But on a more educational note we sat with all the children to watch the party leaders’ debate. “Now, this is important,” I said. But they looked less than convinced. Then came the questions: “Why are they all men?” “Because …