In the ten weeks since the Tories unexpectedly found themselves back in power with an overall majority, David Cameron and George Osborne have wasted no time in introducing major cuts to public spending with profound implications for millions of families.
In particular, the chancellor seems like a man on a mission, intent on drastically changing the public services in Britain, not only reducing welfare payments in a bid to get more people off the dole, but also chopping the financial support which makes a huge difference to working families on low incomes.
Mr Osborne has already announced £12 billion in welfare savings, including reducing the benefits cap by an average of £63 for single parents. He has also made attaining a university education tougher for poorer students by abolishing maintenance grants in England and has put a two-child limit on low wage families claiming tax credits.
If all this was not enough, yesterday he unveiled in public spending review which demanded £20 billion in cuts. Specifically, he is asking government departments not ring fenced, such as health, to come up with savings of up to 40 per cent.
Against such a backdrop, it is difficult to see this chancellor in any mood to provide concessions to Northern Ireland which is stalling on the introduction of the first wave of welfare reforms.
We now have further cuts being brought forward by the Conservatives, so for those dependent on welfare, the situation has got considerably worse since the election.
Certainly, the Tories are forging ahead with speed and force, safe in the knowledge that they face no credible opposition.
Following Monday's vote in favour of welfare reforms at Westminster, finance minister Arlene Foster warned the £600 million gap in Stormont funding is set to get bigger.
There is talk of direct rule being introduced to sort out this financial crisis but far better would be elected representatives reaching an agreed and workable solution.
