The world according to the Tories

Britain's "broken"? Blame public workers and incapacity benefits!

So there we have it. If you thought Britain's current woes were in any way related to bankers running amok, to the ever-growing wage differentials, to the masses' sinking purchasing power, or even to the billions wasted on headline grabbers like Trident, or lost through tax evasion - if you ever considered any of those, then you were wrong.

It turns out, the Tories tell us, that Britain is a "broken" country because:

a) some people are on incapacity benefits;

b) some public sector workers earn over £18K a year;

c) public sector pensions should be capped.

These, the "reformed" Conservatives are repeating, are the most compelling, serious and urgent problems facing Britain. These and little else. Alright, maybe hoodies too, like Chris Grayling would be keen to remind you, but if both public workers and incapacity benefit claimants are tackled head-on and bashed (better if with some Daily Mail-pleasing hoopla), Britain will finally get working.

Except that we've heard it all before and what a shame no-one's reminding the good old Tories (and Labour too) that it's about time they start cracking their knuckles over something more factual.

Even the most acute observer may have lost count of the amount of times the government, - egged on by the right-wing press - unveiled a blustering crackdown on incapacity benefits and public sector workers. Remember Labour's cuts in 1999 and 2002, the "overhaul" of 2006 and the fanfare of James Purnell's reforms a few months ago?

Either none of this ever worked, or it is simply time to call time on the bogeyman.