Last week we heard that yet again the prison population had hit an all-time high at 88,179, unemployment amongst the young is growing with UK unemployment rising by 129,000 in the three months to September to 2.62 million, and youth unemployment rose above a million.

The jobless total for 16 to 24-year-olds hit a record of 1.02 million in the quarter and female unemployment was at its highest for 23 years. Friday’s High Court ruling that the government’s proposed changes to pensions are lawful will not just have implications for public sector workers but also for those in the private sector – meaning less money for the majority. UK construction is slowing, manufacturing is reported as shrinking and more of us are facing fuel poverty. What is needed now more than ever is a clear vision and strong leadership.

The leaders of our country need to take stock. Have they the right skills, right support and clarity of vision to deliver? Perhaps they should look to some of the most successful global companies for expertise and ideas as currently we seem very short on schemes with the same themes being pushed without the overall vision being articulated. Why should local people worry about what is happening in Europe or if the government has a big debt? The message is at best complicated, and the current reactive approach is leading to even more confusion and despondency. Let’s get a clear narrative which provides a picture of where we are going and how we are going to get there so that we can all understand with an outstanding leader driving us forward. Remember: to lead you first have to have followers and to do this you first have to gain their confidence, trust and support!