I guess business at Brompton must be very good. The combination of a few aesthetic tweaks and a publicity push over the last few years seems to have worked for them, and the retail price has risen correspondingly. I'm somewhat staggered by the amount that people are willing to pay for one. . . I think sales must be heavily skewed by the UK 'cycle to work' scheme which brings the price tag down into almost reasonable realms, though the domestic market is only 30% or so.

Given that there's sod-all industry in the UK every time a politician is involved in something to do stimulating industry etc. they go and visit the Brompton factory. They're probably all hoping to get a free bike.
Actually I saw Peter Mandelson riding his Brompton in regent's park last summer.