“I would highlight three main areas,” says Mr Sentance. “One is better transport. I support the need for better transport links, but we need to make sure the transport infrastructure is improving not just in the longer term, but also in the short-term with, perhaps, stronger focus on delivering smaller projects that help in local areas.”
The second thing he thinks the government should focus on is educational skills. “Let us make sure all the initiatives it is talking about – such as academy schools, and apprenticeships – are well-managed.”
Finally, Mr Sentance believes that for a long time the government has lacked a major approach to reforming taxes. “If you look at George Osborne’s latest budget, it is all bells and whistles and taking with one hand and giving with another. There is far too much tinkering with the tax system and not much streamlining and reforming, so I think George Osborne has the opportunity post the EU referendum vote to make some significant reforms to the tax system.”
The past year has seen missed economic targets and controversies about the working of the party, exposing an ongoing rift. But, right now, the government needs to deal with a referendum vote. The outcome of that could set the tone for the rest of the parliament.
“My advice to David Cameron is to stop scaremongering about the Brexit. Let us have a balanced argument for once,” Ms Griffiths says.
