Tom Lehrer famously said that political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was given the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1973.

This sprang to mind as I read with mounting incredulity this story about West Midlands Ambulance Service commissioning £10,000 worth of research on what makes a leader be perceived as 'cool'.

One of the options in a survey given to ambulance staff was Adolf Hitler.

Yes, you did just read that right.

No, it is not from the Daily Mash.

The justification offered by some poor spokesman from the Trust is a camp classic.

It's starting to feel like reality has gone on holiday.