IN the wake of Clare Short's dramatic resignation speech, last week, we concluded this column by harking back to Tony Blair's pledge, on becoming Prime Minister in 1997, to make Britain a country at ease with itself.

We reflected that he'd been singularly unsuccessful so far - and that, every time withering criticisms like Ms Short's threw the spotlight on him, the more difficult it would be to keep that pledge.

Today, we continue our coverage of an issue which has hardly lifted the nation's spirits towards that lofty 'pleased to live in Britain' ambition.

There's hardly a family in the land that hasn't been affected by the tax credit farce.

The principle behind the switch of allowances from a husband's pay to the mother's bank account is admirable.

But the best of intentions have foundered on the rocks of good old British bureaucracy and rank bad planning.

The point of these words today is to spare a thought for those people working in the Inland Revenue offices who are working as hard as they can to overcome the same problems.

Adding to the burden by haranguing innocent victims the other side of the counter, or phone line, won't help.

When a Samaritans survey has shown that one in five Britons feel stressed on a daily basis - with nearly half saying it leaves them feeling depressed - it's a pressure any of us could do without.

It's also fuel to the fire of those who say that Britain seems to be coming apart at the seams.

We haven't come to that conclusion ourselves, yet, but it's becoming harder and harder to avoid.