As a trade unionist, I take some comfort - and not a little amusement - from the fact that the government, through its incompetence in encouraging a panic, has strengthened the union's hand when it comes to negotiations.

The union hasn't even called a strike - and, thanks to the government, just look what happens at the mere threat of one. The unspoken subtext must now be: "Imagine what would happen if we were to actually call a strike."

I imagine Cameron was trying to invoke the spirit of Maggie, who stockpiled coal before the miners' strike. Dopey Dave thought he could get us all to do our own individual stockpiling, by persuading us that the evil unions were a personal threat to each and every one of us.