Little has changed in that respect and most of those who come to my surgeries these days want exactly the same. In places like Rochdale the welfare system will always have a key role to play, but the challenge that the left has to face up to is rebuilding public confidence in the system. Far too many people tell me they feel their taxes are ‘wasted’ on welfare largesse and these voices cannot be ignored. We need to win their trust and build a system that everyone can have confidence in.