Desmond Tutu once observed that the difference between the Boers and the English was that the Boers would call you all sorts of names to your face, and the English would smile and betray you. That is basically the difference between the Mail and the Guardian.
Something that sounds like Sure Start is coming back. This is a good thing, but there's nothing like the social infrastructure there was then to tap into.
We'll have to wait for the Budget. Sounds like tax rises coming. Perhaps these can fill some gaps.