The Prime Minister states that austerity is over, but fiscal responsibility is not.

I don’t agree with the former, while entirely concurring with the latter.

With the national debt at a staggering £1.8 trillion pounds, the country’s finances are still in a parlous state.

To take the brakes off now would place the next generation in peril.

It’s true the debt is now coming down, and that the deficit has narrowed, but we are not out of the woods yet.

And I would also suggest that throwing £20 billion at the NHS is not necessarily the answer, when, as I have argued on many occasions, the organisation needs root and branch reform.

The promised splurge has led the Chancellor to hint at tax rises, which is not what we promised at the ballot box.

It’s always tempting to think that spending money can solve all ills, but that’s not the case, and you only have to look around the world to see the misery that causes, with the less well-off suffering the most.

So, fiscal rectitude must continue, while encouraging the public sector in particular to think out of the box.

In Dorset alone, our councils are combining, regional fire services have amalgamated and the police are working ever closer with Devon and Cornwall.

Meanwhile, I and many of my colleagues continue to fight for a Brexit that truly gives our country the ability to trade around the world as a sovereign and independent nation.

This will generate the income we need, rather than spending money we don’t have, or imposing punitive taxes on those who strive hard to create jobs and prosperity.

While we do have our issues, let’s not forget employment is at its highest for 43 years; a remarkable record.