Yes, I admit DC is a good salesman, the more so when he hasn't a product to sell!

I was talking to a Member of the Australian Cabinet last week about how come Labour won in Australia in the recent election. "We weren't the Liberal Party" he replied, suggesting that the enthusiasm for change was a powerful force.

I take the contrary view. Indeed, I say to Government quite often "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and by any objective assessment the British economy is stronger now than it was 11 years ago and that's due to Gordon Brown's prudence. True, he's made mistakes. I've been very angry about the 10p tax rate debacle and the Post Office closures (but let's be clear, the opposition have no answers either). But on the big economic issues it's all plus, plus, plus.

In the last 11 years borrowing has fallen from 44% to 39% of our national income, unemployment has halved and employment, i.e. those contributing directly to the economy, is at record levels.

Investment in Health has more than doubled in real terms and record investment in our schools has achieved much. The extra cash for our police has helped them reduce crime by nearly 50%. I appreciate, of course, that the parent who is concerned about a school is not the same parent who, 10 years ago, would have complained that there were no books and pencils. I realise that the patient who waits now for 10 weeks for surgery was not the patient waiting up to two years some 10 years ago. I understand that a victim of crime is still 100% a victim of crime and we must do ever better.

And it's a fact that every pensioner and every family is better off with Labour and those in the bottom third in terms of income are £40 a week (pensioners) and £70 a week (families) better off, even after taking account of inflation

All I am saying is that, thanks to Gordon Brown's stewardship as Chancellor, we are now able to withstand, better than most, record oil prices and the credit crunch. What I am certain is not the answer is the slashing of public expenditure, which is the necessary consequence of a £10bn tax cut, as proposed by the Tories.

It's part and parcel of British politics to get angry with the Government when things go wrong but I think most people won't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Gordon may not be the most charismatic leader in the world but he is certainly one of the most competent and on any objective analysis he's always on the side of those least able to fend for themselves.