We live in a challenging world -

a world where the years of money being readily available to individuals, businesses and governments seems such a distant memory, one where “the bank that likes to say yes” stands accused of money laundering and at least one of its rivals of fixing the interest rates.

We have seen Governments have to choose between high interest rates for all, or less spending on services.  The collapse of the European Single Currency – never supported in this country – will shape global economic growth for a decade – yet politicians within the Eurozone delay making the choices that seem inevitable – preferring instead to “kick the can down the road”.

In the United Kingdom, we have a new style of government, one not seen in most of our lifetimes.  A coalition of two parties who are acting in the national interest to deliver an economy fit to take us through the crisis years.  An inevitably uneasy relationship, which will probably mean electoral challenges for both.

This government has inherited the sort of economic outlook that no politician would want to deal with – not if he wants a long career at the top.  Having spent on the nation’s credit card without thought for the future, the previous administration left a note, declaring “There’s no money left.”

Just like all of us who have, from time to time, had this stark message delivered by a machine, which promptly returns our card without thought for its impact, the nation has been to the metaphorical “hole in the wall” once too often.

The articles you will find on this site contain my thoughts about how some of these problems can best be dealt with, why I support the government’s programme of fiscal restraint and what progress is being achieved.