Second, galvanising support for mega capital projects. While we have one of the longest running farces over Terminal 5, the Government keeps pushing for a fifth runway. No sensible government in this terrorist age should allow such an intensity of flights over its capital city. A new site at the mouth of the Thames should be designated and accompanied by the announcement that the last flight will leave Heathrow 25 years hence. Planning new rail and speed water links back into London should become key parts of this project. Pulling the British transport system into the 21st century is one of the serious long-term decisions voters expect governments to take.

Third, establishing our own sovereign wealth fund. There could not have been a clearer demonstration that the era of rapacious capitalism was at an end than when Merrill Lynch had to grovel to eastern sovereign wealth funds to bail out capitalism’s most prestigious flagship. Britain needs its own sovereign wealth fund and it should operate one on the back of pension reform. Pensions, underpinned by savings, should be universalised and, as no sensible person would ever trust governments with their savings, Britain should operate its own sovereign wealth fund at arm’s length from the Government. A new body, set on a par with the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, would be charged with the investment strategy. It would become the cornerstone in a rebuilding of civil society.

Fourth, revolutionising what is meant by state education. The one education reform no government has tried is putting parents firmly in control. Can anyone believe that 40 per cent of children would leave primary schools without the minimum skills for a ten year old and that over 50 per cent of pupils would fail to achieve the minimum leaving standard of 5 A* to C GCSEs including English and Maths, if parents were in control? Denmark allows any community of 300 parents, too dissatisfied with the state schools, to draw-down the equivalent budget and form their own Little School. Similar powers should be given to parents in this country.