John Fox: An open letter to Esther McVey

Dear Esther, A month into your new role as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the honeymoon period is well and truly over. Indeed, given your job is the modern-day ministerial equivalent of the Northern Ireland office - strewn with banana skins and entrenched opponents - I imagine any honeymoon ended on the day of your appointment. The pensions part of your brief is a uniquely delicate one. On one hand, there is a groaning inbox of issues that require action. Equally important is the need to defend from the Chancellor the system of tax breaks that underpins the private pensions...