SOMETHING very strange is happening in politics at the moment.

Around the world politicians are grappling with the challenges caused by the US credit crunch.

Business leaders are making judgements about what they can do.

Workers look around and fear what might happen.

But what’s strange about the politics right now is that there seems to be a growing consensus on what we should do.

All across the globe, governments of the left and the right are reaching the same conclusions.

Last week, at the G20 summit in Washington agreement was reached by the world’s richest countries on how to respond.

On Monday, I led the UK development delegation in Strasbourg when we agreed unanimously in our response.

Right now, families and businesses need help to see them through these difficult times.

That is why central banks, like the Bank of England, have reduced interest rates across the world.

It is agreed by nearly all, that we need to help our economies grow and not let them fall into recession.

Next week, our government will put money back into the pockets of people so that they can spend it, keeping people in jobs.

This fiscal expansion is the policy choice right across the globe. It is the right thing to do.

We will continue to re-build our public infrastructure, such as new schools, rail links, health centres.

Here in the UK, it is supported by business leaders such as the CBI.

The once Thatcherite institute of directors has also come out in favour of Gordon Brown’s tax cuts.

So a policy that is supported by politicians across the world, business leaders and trade unions, the richest and poorest nations of the world is set to be announced.

But wait; there is a group opposed to the policy. Yes, you’ve guessed it. David Cameron’s Conservatives are opposed to any tax cuts and now they have said they will cut public spending too.

They stand totally isolated. Their deputy chairman said the recession must be allowed to run its course.

They will not help families and businesses right now, the very moment when they need it.

They stand accused of bad judgement, being out of their depth and if they were in power, the British people would be getting a slap in the face and not the shot in the arm they need.