I've recently been asked, by an acquaintance, for my ideas for the future of the UK. Rather than give them privately and eventually have to repeat them, I thought I may as well express my thoughts here.

As with all predictions, it is necessary to look back to see what may happen in the future.

For example, it is fortunate that Hitler did not look back at Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia in winter because, had he done so, he might not have repeated that mistake!

In the relatively recent past, we have seen a 'New Labour' party come to power which, in the opinion of many, has systematically destroyed almost every institution and tradition held dear.

We've seen the rise of a self-perpetuating super-class of politicians and bureaucrats which appears to hold the public in total contempt.

In my opinion, one can safely say that Gordon Brown will hang on to the bitter end of his unelected tenure so interested parties have the best part of a year in which to try and shake the public out of its apathy and get it voting on polling day.

The public should be reminded of Bodie Thoene's wise words: 'Apathy is the empty glove into which the hand of evil slips' which reflects exactly what happened during the last general election, 13 years ago.

What I would like to see is a huge turnout at the next election so that the results reflect the genuine majority wish, whatever that may be. People are well aware that firm handling of the national economy is required, with major cuts and will accept them as long as the reductions are applied evenly across the board.

The next government, I think, can be as strong as is necessary in turning off financial taps and putting Britain and British interests first for between three and five years, while balance is restored to the national budget.

What is certain is that no government could do worse than has been done during the recent past. After all, the Labour party, if it were to release its internal accounts would reveal total bankruptcy in the Party. How can a party that is incapable of balancing its own affairs be expected to do any better for the country?

Britain needs financial keyhole surgery as opposed to the use of an economic blunderbuss as in recent times. The current government's fiscal policy brings to mind an elephant on laxatives.

You can throw as much money as you like at the walls of the health service or education but it will not make the slightest difference if the foundations of these institutions are rotten. As far as I am concerned, the rot has set in to every British institution.

If the government were interested enough in what individual members of the public had to offer by way of suggestions to ask, my first would be to bring back National Service and transfer the huge number of young people on the dole, with nothing better to do than hang around in public spaces intimidating others, into a training program that would, if nothing else, instill some discipline into them. To avoid this, they could always look for a job which, for many of them would be an entirely novel experience.

It is my fear that, if Britain continues to plunge deeper into bankruptcy, with ongoing job losses and home repossessions, the public may well reach a flashpoint and civil unrest cannot be ruled out.

Even now, albeit half jokingly, people are toasting the memory of Guy Fawkes without waiting for the 5th of November to come around.