Bill Carmichael: Now we need honest answers

To be honest, I was quite flattered to be asked. But hubris was quickly punctured when I discovered I was a late substitute for David Blunkett who had been forced to cancel because of an urgent meeting in London. I've a strange sinking feeling that being David Blunkett's body double may very well turn out to be the highlight of my career.

The debate was to be the culmination of a day-long series of workshops and discussions designed to engage young people in political and philosophical ideas.

By the time I turned up for the evening event I expected to be asked a few desultory questions by a couple of dozen bored sixth formers who had been dragooned into attending.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The venue – a large lecture theatre in Sheffield – was packed with school pupils, teachers, students,

political activists and even a few members of the public. They were engaged, enthusiastic and well-informed and determined to give the members of the panel the grilling of our lives.

We were given no advance notice of the topics and quickly found ourselves under close questioning on issues as diverse as the role of faith in modern society, global warming, terrorism, civil liberties, population control and the economy.

Phew! At the end of two hours you could have wrung me out like a damp rag.

What was most impressive was not only how switched on the audience were but the fact there was no attempt to "dumb down" or simplify complex issues for a predominantly young audience.

Should we compromise our civil liberties to improve our security? It is a tough question and there was absolutely no attempt to duck it. The message was clear – young people are interested in politics if it is presented in the right way and they are treated like proper grown-ups.

Watching the General Election debate over recent weeks, I was struck by the contrast. Tough questions – most notably on the perilous state of the economy – have been ducked throughout.

None of the main party leaders had the courage to detail honestly the painful measures that will be needed over coming months and years if we are to avoid financial disaster.

Far from addressing the electorate as grown-ups we've been treated as little children who have to be protected from the harsh reality of the economic facts.

Right bang in the middle of the campaign the respected Institute of Fiscal Studies announced that the deepest public spending cuts for 30 years would be needed to restore some order to the country's finances.

Its warning was largely ignored – as was its comment that none of the main parties' economic plans was remotely realistic.

But now the time for lies and obfuscation is over, and the first thing the new government must deal with is the truly terrifying level of debt.

The brutal truth is that Britain is bust. Official government debt will over the next five years grow to 1.4 trillion – or almost 80 per cent of GDP – and this year the UK will borrow more than any other EU country, even surpassing Greece.

Watching Athens burn on our television screens is a salutary lesson where unsustainable debt can lead us. The only bright spot is that we are not in the single currency – no thanks to euro-fanatic Nick Clegg.

The reason Greece is in a mess is that its politicians have lied to the public for years, telling them it is okay to retire at 50 on generous pensions and that an endless supply of borrowed cash will bridge any shortfall. Here in the UK, even if we escape the contagion spreading throughout the eurozone, we are faced with years of tax rises and public spending cuts.

Those are the plain facts and it is about time, with the election campaigns over, for politicians to start treating us like adults and telling us the unvarnished truth.