Alistair Burt MP: Confidence our nation is on the right track.

Tempting though it might be to give politics a miss for another month, there is not much point. Britain is back moving again, and we are all getting on with life once again. MPs are already back in action too, both locally and at Westminster.

As you may have seen the Coalition Government is reminding the public that we are roughly half way through our term, and setting out where we believe the country should be heading. I am rather in favour of this. If the Government does not talk about what it has achieved, I can guarantee no-one else will. It does not mean we have no problems but in trying to give confidence to people that we are on the right track, it is not unfair to offer a few reminders which might otherwise have gone unsaid.

I believe we are in global competition, which is why getting the economy back on track, clearing a quarter of the historic deficit left by Labour, is so important. We’re on the right track in welfare, education, the NHS, immigration and crime because of difficult choices faced up to, tough decisions taken, and bold reforming legislation enacted.

David Cameron’s Government has new proposals too. We will support working families with their childcare costs. We will build more houses and make home ownership a reality for more people. We will set out plans for long-term investment in Britain’s transport infrastructure. And we will set out two big reforms to provide dignity in old age – an improved state pension that rewards saving, and more help with the costs of long term care.

A people who can achieve the Olympics can achieve anything - I hope 2013 will demonstrate a Government to match.