I’ve just surveyed 10,000 Falkirk households on the things that matter to them most. The results, for the most part, are pretty generalisable across the UK (see ‘methodology’ at www.FKUK.net). Many of the priorities expressed by Falkirk folk can be usefully grouped under the broad heading of ‘Security’.

Asked to look at their lives in the round, people are generally optimistic for themselves yet ambivalent about what the future holds for their children and grandchildren. This ambivalence extends to the point of paradox on physical, economic and environmental security. They don’t feel disproportionately threatened by serious crime although they do worry about antisocial behaviour and the future risk of terrorism. They don’t think global warming is a fad but they want to defer ‘green’ taxes. They feel altruistic but believe ‘charity begins at home’. They support the armed services but aren’t at all keen on military conflict. They don’t love coppers but they appreciate their role in keeping their families safe.

Yet when you dig deeper into people’s thinking, many of these apparent paradoxes aren’t really that at all. They are expressions of insecurity. And this insecurity seems to extend from the greater ambiguity that characterises any decent analysis of the contemporary world around them. It’s crucial that New Labour empathises with this present instinct for, if not pessimism, then certainly looking after one’s own backyard.

People are unquestionably up for progressive solutions to the world’s problems. And they understand that in important ways there isn’t really any ‘abroad’ any more. But right now, they want the government to shoot the crocodiles next to the raft they and their families feel tossed around in. The imperative is on the present – once we’re through these choppy times, there will be ample room for collective expression of people’s instinct for altruism.

That imperative needs to be reflected in the key policy areas. Can we help people more with the price of fuel? Can we further reduce antisocial behaviour in our communities? Can we reduce the risk of terrorism (the individual risk is small but the consequences great – people do get that)? Can we show that we are truly in touch with the public’s profound support for our armed services? Can we show we value the police as much as the public, albeit often grudgingly, do.

It goes the other way too. The UK leads the world in the field of international development – it’s perhaps New Labour’s greatest achievement to date. Yet when asked to prioritise a list of 14 policy areas, Falkirk folk ranked international development at 13. Only 10 per cent rated it in their top four. That doesn’t mean we should dim our commitment to hitting the 0.7 per cent target. It does mean, though, that we need to show exactly what we get for taxpayers’ money in that field. It’s essential that we convince people that helping the world’s poorest makes us more secure at home.

An easy majority of Falkirk folk see the point of ID cards; few have deep concerns about 42 days detention; most know mortgage rates were worse under the Tories but view that as irrelevant today. Yet they haven’t given up on New Labour. There’s no doubt that they still value the security we’ve provided in the past – and might well continue to do. Provided, that is, we put the present imperative first.