More Focus

February 28, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

Things are looking better for the government in its handling of the Libya crisis. The dithers and gaffes of the first few days have given way to some daring actions by the military and evacuations, of many nationalities including Americans, which have made headlines. There is now some sense of urgency as well as gravity in the government’s activities. There is still no news of some three hundred British oil workers based out in the desert. If the estimate is correct there will have to be more rescues.

Meanwhile tomorrow is  March 1st and the month of the budget begins. This budget will have to be clear and unambiguous, offering real prospects of growth which ordinary people can understand. 2011 is the year when the cuts are going to start to bite and to get people on board to bear the pain, it is essential that they have a shared vision of where we are headed. So far they have supported the government with reservation. This support must become whole hearted. This will not be an easy task. To achieve it, outcomes from ministries other than the Treasury have to be a good deal less bumbling. The current improvement from the foreign office and the MOD needs to spread right across Whitehall.