Keir Starmer built his political identity on being a departure from scandal-plagued politics. By appointing Peter Mandelson, a figure with a long history of controversy, he created a self-inflicted wound that directly contradicts his core message. This demonstrates the high risk of associating with influential but tainted figures, regardless of their perceived abilities.
Contrary to being an evolutionary 'paradox,' research suggests same-sex sexual behavior in animals is a functional adaptation for survival. Its prevalence increases in species facing greater external threats, such as extreme climates or high numbers of predators. This indicates the behavior serves to strengthen social cohesion and cooperation, which are critical for group survival under stressful conditions.
Beyond low fares, Ryanair's long-term dominance stems from its financial strategy of investing when the industry is weak. The airline uses its large cash reserves to place massive, discounted aircraft orders with manufacturers like Boeing during slumps and opportunistically seizes market share when legacy carriers falter. This turns competitors' crises into major growth opportunities.
Ryanair's success didn't just win market share; it fundamentally reshaped the entire European airline industry. Its model of unbundling every service to achieve the lowest base fare forced legacy carriers like British Airways to adopt similar 'low-cost tricks' to compete on short-haul routes. This has led to an industry-wide degradation of the passenger experience, where once-standard amenities are now paid add-ons.