At one point during Gordon Brown’s pre-Budget report I thought I heard him announce the introduction of a mandatory national bedtime. We could only face the competitive challenge from China and India, he was saying, if we were all tucked up in bed with a good textbook by 10pm.

Mr Brown’s great political strength is also his weakness. He has a persuasive story to tell about the role of government in equipping Britain for the tumultuous changes in the world economy. He is right to judge that the public mood is defined by the insecurities of our age, economic and physical. People do want government on their side.