Cameron hopes to lessen fuel woes

Today saw the latest Cameron Direct event, and the Prime Minister defended his government’s position of bankers’ bonuses and Europe, and he devoted a section to profess the fortitude of the coalition itself. But Cameron realises that he needs to offer positive news, both to a country acclimatising to austerity and to a party that has broken out in a rash of ill-temper.

Fuel duty was his chosen tonic. There were no commitments, but Cameron promised to review the level of duty or road tax as part of the March budget. This lends a little weight to the rumours that fuel duty and/or road taxes might be cut or a fuel duty stabiliser introduced to cheer anxious motorists and avert the threat of strikes. Now that the expectation has formed and been fed, Cameron is likely to deliver.

It will not be enough to convince the country, but the party is another matter.