Yet again we hear that the banks aren’t lending to small businesses. Of the £19bn a quarter that’s been pledged to help fuel SMEs, just £16.8bn has been given out – a shortfall of 12%. So, not only is the so-called Project Merlin not working its magic, but this reticence to lend to SMEs is stalling the engines of the very businesses that drive our economy.

This is totally at odds with the entrepreneurial vision of Start-Up Britain that David Cameron set out for us. For me, the rousing rhetoric has been left stumbling at the starting blocks, and reveals the growing gulf between the will (to start and run a successful a business) and the way (having the means to do so).

The banks aren’t willing to lend. The venture capitalists have become more risk averse and won’t finance SMEs unless they fulfill a number of criteria – namely, that they must be in revenue, show profit and have healthy order books.

Which makes it even tougher for early-stage start-up businesses, whether they’re trying to get spin-out from universities, or whether they’re pre-revenue companies with a great idea or a fabulous product but no capital to fund the prototype and testing stage. What are they supposed to do?

Money is the fuel the engine needs to get started. Banks and VCs are the ignition keys necessary to start the engine. But the banks aren’t lending to provide the fuel, and the VCs are taking no risk. So tell me, Mr Cameron, how the hell do you start the engine to start up Britain?