Vote Leave, take control. What a slogan it was — far better than anything the Remain camp could rustle up.

Not only was it catchy, it went to the very heart of this country’s problem. Britain’s recent economic history has been characterised by a desperate lack of control.

Lack of control from our chancellors, who broke fiscal rule after fiscal rule. Lack of control from our central bankers, who did too little to prepare us for the financial crisis and moved too slowly when it hit. Lack of control from households around the country, who borrowed too much year after year.

Diagnosing a country’s long-term economic prospects is more art than science. You need to delve far beyond tax and spending plans, microeconomic policies and