You’re minister for housing. You’re still coming to grips with a housing boom that blew up in the country’s collective face which caused massive unemployment in the building sector. You also have a shortage of affordable homes. Finally, a large section of society is living in sub-standard accommodation.

On the plus side, the final one of those problems has a nifty solution that may even help reduce unemployment in the building sector too. God, this sounds like a no-brainer. What could it be?

It’s called the Housing Adaption Scheme. Over the years it’s been chronically underfunded as well as being beset by tales of people applying too late in the year. You get the picture. It needs a revamp and in the longer term, it will cut costs in loads of other areas like health and social care. And don’t forget the unemployed builders getting the chance to return to employment and return to paying taxes. These taxes may even provide extra funds for the scheme! What could possibly go wrong?

This could.

You put out a circular on New Year’s Eve announcing that, actually to make the whole thing more “efficient”, you’re going to cut aspects of a still very restrictive scheme. But hey, statistically, you’re going to be able to argue that the scheme has actually increased.

By the way you are also a Labour Party minister whose default setting is having a social conscience so any cut might really undercut your street cred.

Jan O’Sullivan I salute your utter contempt for that very basic, scientific notion that every action has an equal reaction.
You are a star.