David Cameron is supposedly learning lessons from Tony Blair's first years in Downing Street. The major difference is that Labour actually secured a landslide in 1997 whilst Cameron only just crept into power with LibDem backing.
Cameron believes Blair was overcautious so will frontload extreme measures, while crossing his fingers that shock therapy will electrify the economy and voters will forget the pain by the next election.
Labour's early years saw the national minimum wage, new schools and Irish peace, for example. But even if it's true to say we were slow off the mark, we may conclude that the Tories soared to the other extreme, went too far and too fast when greater care was needed. Sadly, we are living through this experiment.
Tories often say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." But Cameron's Conservatives, shielded by LibDems, are axing services which are generally working. Their zealotry will do lasting damage to much of what makes this country special but I will cite just two burning issues: health and forests.
Any institution the size of the NHS must constantly adjust to new times. We are becoming an older society with constantly advancing medical technology so the NHS has to match that change. We must, for instance, tackle the neglect of older people.
We also expect more from our public services. We no longer wish to fit our lives in with the institution but expect it to be the other way round. Reform is a permanent necessity and should be done in co-operation with the dedicated public servants who perform operations and care for us.
The Tories tried to reverse public perceptions, based on long experience, that the NHS is never safe in their hands by promising extra spending. The increase is actually puny and is being eroded by higher medical costs and ageing.
Furthermore, they are imposing a massively disruptive and expensive reorganisation and are keen to privatise wherever possible. This means longer waiting times and people will not forgive them for undermining an effective service which commands majority satisfaction and support.
The second issue concerns our wonderful natural heritage - our forests and woodlands. For reasons that baffle even many Tory backwoodsmen, ministers decided to privatise public forests which allow free access.
It's inspiring that so many local folk are up in arms about this. Locally, hundreds have braved the cold and rain to defend Chopwell Wood and say that it is not for sale. Once again, the Tories - with the LibDems in tow - show that they know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
I've had a massive postbag from constituents who passionately oppose these sell-offs. Constituents who walk their dogs, run, cycle, ride horses or who just enjoy being with their families in the fresh air in a beautiful and safe environment. Others worry about the impact on the environment and the increasing biodiversity of our woodland.
Ministers lack a firm mandate but behave like masters of the universe and recklessly ram through policies that go against the grain, until they are forced to retreat by public outcry. People power has forced the government to put on hold plans to sell off the forests. We need to keep up the pressure to stop it altogether.
People just don't trust the Tories when it comes to protecting public services. We have, after all, ample experience of their slash and burn approach in the North East. Their current policies are part of package of measures to permanently curb the public sector and reduce social justice.
People everywhere can challenge this agenda by, for instance, taking part in the TUC national demonstration against the cuts on Saturday 26 March in London. I know that many people don't want to look back at this government's first and hopefully only term of office and conclude that we were too slow in stopping our country going backwards.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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