Conversely, as one example of many ‘quangos’, BERR reportedly runs as a fifth column within government working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest – it’s budget since Mandleson returned is reported to be £1.92 b (taxpayer funded).

Mrs Thatcher faced an unenviable task clearing up the last mess created by Labour – when the going gets tough, the tough get going. There’s far more to Britain that Nuliebor as the local election results confirmed.

Cuts will have to be made and the Tories will need courage because for the cuts to be beneficial they will need to be deep and often painful.

Presently they are portraying the cuts as something that can be made with very little pain, and this is an impossibility given the almighty mess this Labour government have made of the economy.

The printing of money always leads to inflation although it takes time to feed through but, it is inevitable, so, the Tories will have the unenviable task of cutting costs whilst inflation is moving into third gear and whilst the economy continues to stagnate.

Better warn the electorate now

We know you’re planning to abolish the cards. The government has now admitted that they will never be made compulsory anyway; however, the cards were never the problem.

The problem is the database, the all-encompassing hackers’ delight that will hold all sorts of personal information on everyone, be accessible to huge numbers of officials, yet be totally secure, etc etc etc.

THAT is what we need abolished.

But I hear nothing definite from the Tory leadership on this.

I fear a weaselling-out operation is planned, or possibly some retreat along the lines of “the EU made us do it”.

Please tell me I’m being too cynical.

I assume we will stop the lot.

Does the opposition have the resources and foresight to have legislation prepared on this and other important matters so no time need be wasted on coming to office and starting to repair the damage?

2. We mention again our suggestion to get the civil service and the public fully engaged in the savings culture.

The new government should estimate, quantify and regularly measure and update our progress/success in reducing the cost of the state and the elimination of waste.
Call it ‘The People’s Piggy Bank’ (‘No more snouts in THIS trough!’) and publish estimates and actual figures monthly in an imaginative way.

Techniques that we have all used in sales and company incentive schemes should be used unashamedly and so should some of the catchy slogans that we regularly advocate here.
This is a deadly serious business but to connect with the public and get everyone genuinely onside we shouldn’t use just dry economic language and tired cliches.

Free Bus Pass Scheme was, of course, not affordable even at the time Labour introduced it – a gimmick to gain political support.

The electorate have two simple choices – ‘socialist totalitarianism’ or a return to the principles of democracy – free enterprise, free opinion and free speech.

Labour favour Federal Europe with Blair as next president