a tiny speck of soot

Right from the start, The Irishman foregrounds the looming inevitability of death.

It is important to instill discipline in a child at an early age.

The perception that Gove had alienated the teaching profession to the extent that it was having an impact on the 'winnability' of marginal seats meant that he had become toxic to his party's election prospects; many who thought he should go admired his efforts to change schooling and also that his reforms were much needed and did not go far enought.