The Conservative government has developed a curious rhetorical tic lately, as Maximilien Robespierre notes in his latest clip.

Instead of providing tangible help on the latest crisis they have triggered or escalated, ministers tell us to rely on our own common sense.

So in the Covid-19 crisis, mask-wearing was cast as a matter of choice. And now, with the cost of energy multiplying exponentially, they are refusing to provide advice.

They say we should rely on our own common sense.

Here’s the clip:

It’s an abrogation of responsibilty.

Political choices put the population in this mess, so politicians should grasp the nettle and offer us options to get out of it.

And saying the amount of energy we use is up to us, after experts have already said we need to cut back consumption by 15-30 per cent, is imbecilic.

This Writer’s advice is: don’t listen to them. Listen to the people offering real help, like the Iceland boss in the clip.

Apologies for the unusual layout of this article. I am away from my desk, writing this on my mobile phone, without access to my usual tools.