i wish to hear jacob rees-mogg. >> thank you, mr speaker.is not the lesson from the noble baroness thatcher that, when you have set an economic course, you should stick to it -- "there is no alternative"? >> my honorable friend has a huge following in all parts of the house. the point he makes is important, it is that whatever your plans to encourage growth in the economy, we have the lowest corporate tax rate in the g7, we have abolished labour's jobs tax, and we are investing in science and skills, all of which are necessary -- without a plan to deal with the deficit, they are nothing. >> i think the prime minister would accept that he has had better weeks. he has lost the support of the cbi because he does not have a growth strategy. the economy has taken a highly predictable downturn. he has lost his essex man. and i understand that there were forecasts of snow for the end of the week. is there anyone remaining in the government who still understands or is in touch with the concerns of ordinary people, whose jobs are under threat because