THE antidote to mid-term blues is a stocktake of what you’ve achieved so far and a forward look to the couple of years before you face the voters.

It seems to me the government has done pretty much what it said it would. In particular, the deficit has come down by a quarter in two years of unparalleled turbulence in the eurozone, our principal market. Nothing should be done that will jeopardise this.

Coming up in the second half of this parliament, the elderly in particular can look forward to a better deal with an improved single-tier state pension and a cap on the cost of long-term care. Most of us won’t need it, but paying for institutional care is a worry for so many people.

The Prime Minister renewed his commitment to a £10,000 personal income tax allowance, taking many more people out of tax altogether. Where’s the virtue in putting people on benefit then clawing the money back in tax?

Pleasing also was a commitment to invest in road and rail infrastructure.

It’s true many people are feeling pretty bruised, not helped by it being January, traditionally the unhappiest of months. Child benefit withdrawal has not been popular and with five young children I too am directly affected, if it’s any consolation.

And when they’re hurting, people often turn round to look for someone or something to blame. Immigrants perhaps, or the atrociously profligate EU or aid allegedly wasted on the yachts and fighter aircraft of foreign despots.

Each one of these concerns is valid and needs to be addressed, but let’s not kid ourselves, they are central to what really matters – this country’s economic recovery and its positioning as a competitive and viable state in a world that doesn’t owe us a living.