A new team is heading up the UK government. Such are our publishing timescales I cannot know if this is a rejig of old personnel or a full change of administration. And we are not alone – 2024 is a year of elections around the world and it will feel equally momentous for every one of those countries. But do we, as global citizens, all have the same priorities? Some countries will be subject to local issues such as conflict or disasters, but most others will be focused on issues like economics, health, education and policing.

But where does engineering fit in? Short-termism has always been a recurring bugbear in a sector where projects (and their consequences) can last for decades. Big infrastructure projects in transport and energy need a long-term vision and commitment, and shouldn’t fall victim to budgetary squeezes during a five-year parliamentary cycle.

Beyond that bigger vision, and continuing on a UK theme, there are many things we would like to see a government prioritise. Spending...