Of great concern was the fact that there was no detail on potential cuts of an estimated £30bn to public services and the welfare bill if the Conservatives were to win the general election, not unusual in a febrile pre-election atmosphere where none of the major parties will commit to explaining how they plan to reduce the national debt.

On a positive note, and for a future parliament if headed by the Tories, there were random policy announcements designed to entice voters from the removal of Class 2 NICs for the self-employed to an overhaul of savings interest taxation and a neat new ISA for home buyers.