Focus on Priorities

AFTER disappointing performances for the governing parties in the mid-term local elections, there is naturally a period of introspection over what is going wrong and whether changes need to take place.

This analysis inevitably gives rise to a measure of personality politics, where those who have felt slighted or passed over, ignored, or marginalised are prompted to present their solutions.

Such frustrations are magnified when the government is formed from two parties who would, in normal circumstances, disagree on some priorities of government.

Many constituents tell me they believe the coalition is used as a convenient excuse for an unnecessarily extended list of compromises, with the inevitable suspicion that some of these compromises are ones done under the convenience of the coalition rather than because of it.

Some commentators have written eloquently about the "change of direction" required.

For my part, the anxiety I sensed when out campaigning recently was a combination of fatigue with the austerity narrative (understandable but unavoidable) and confusion over how the mission of government will deliver economic growth – and in what timeframe.

At the time of writing, the indications are there that the Queen's Speech will reinvigorate national debate with that sense of purpose.

I am keen to see a renewed focus on the government's key priorities: creating jobs and tackling the deficit to ensure our long-term economic stability.

The vast majority of hard-pressed working people want to hear the government is focused on doing something to alleviate the pressures on their household budgets.