A speech that did not inspire

Yet, while George Osborne’s message yesterday to the Tory conference was the same as the former Deputy Prime Minister’s clarion call in the early 1990s, the delivery and substance was more noteworthy for its flatness.

Of course, politicians should not be solely judged on their oratory – policy does matter – but Britain desperately needs some “get up and go” to prevent the economy stagnating still further.

However it will not be provided by the Chancellor’s repeated use of his favourite new soundbite “together, we will ride out the storm” – the latest variation on his fabled “we’re all in this together” mantra.

In short, it will take far more than the extension of mobile phone coverage, or tweaks to the rules governing employment tribunals, to provide the jobs required to reach the better times promised by Mr Osborne.

This speech’s test will be the number of jobs and businesses that are created as a consequence – and the omens do not look good given the limitations of the text.

Mr Osborne was, of course, right when he said the Eurozone crisis held the key to Britain’s recovery prospects, and today’s talks in Luxembourg now assume even greater importance as Greece begins to default on loan repayments.

Likewise, tax cuts for the long-term are preferable to token gestures, as Mr Osborne said himself. And while many will welcome confirmation that council tax levels will be frozen for another year, the minimal saving will not offset the increased living expenses squeezing the finances of every household in the land.

That said, Mr Osborne could – and should – have done far more to convince the country that his approach is still a viable one, despite the flatlining growth forecasts. There needed to be a far greater emphasis on what he will do in the crucial days, weeks and months ahead rather than the familiar Labour-bashing that will not create any jobs, prosperity or growth in Yorkshire or the North. In short, this was a wasted opportunity that Mr Osborne might regret if Britain does not ride out the gathering storm.