Election morning briefing: economy returns to centre stage

IFS assessment of parties' economic policies will be pored over, but is unlikely to settle decisively the most contested issue in the campaign

Today is St George's Day, the annual celebration of England's patron saint. Festivities are typically more muted than the national days allotted to the other home nations, but perhaps election fever could change this; there's been enough Little Englandism around in the campaign coverage so far.

In the absence of honesty in the funding debate it is easy to fall back into pessimism. It's a black hole, we can never afford to, let's ditch the NHS and start again etc. But the NHS is not popular in Britain because the British are mad but because it is readily understood and represents a social solidarity and pooled risk that citizens actively endorse. Whichever system you chose you'd still have to pay more for it. But you really ought to say how.

Because politicians won't talk openly about tax, the case for progressive taxation is never made. The current general election campaign is a case in point. Because politicians refuse to publicly countenance any increase in income tax, the focus is always on which government departments the next government will slash and by how much.

Not only is this a huge concession to the right (income tax is bad whereas cutting is good) but it also risks leaving politicians open to accusations of breaking their promises if taxes do rise (which they will if the next government is to meet bourgeoning NHS and pension costs). Broken promises also lead to a further diminishment of public trust in politicians.

Is it any wonder that Nicola Sturgeon has caught the public's attention since she is the only party leader openly discussing where she might find common agreement with another party? It may be a clever and strategic ploy on her part to wind up her opponents, but it plays well because it's so radically contrasted with every other main party leader.

These more conventional figures are effectively saying, my party is the only one who'll get you out of this mess and you'd be an idiot not to vote for it.