The pandemic and now a war in Europe have driven a coach and horses through our way of life.

Most changes are small, though significant, like the boom in online communications and deliveries.

Others are having a larger impact, undermining, for example, how we work.

For many, it seems, there is a reluctance to return to the office, with ministers breathing down the necks of absent civil servants.

Some of our greatest, post-war institutions are struggling, too.

The United Nations (UN), founded in 1945 for all mankind, is now dominated by a seven-strong security council.

They include Russia and China, which have consistently voted against the West at critical moments, not least over the invasion of Ukraine in March.

When the UN later voted to remove Russia from its Human Rights’ Council, 24 member countries voted against and 58 abstained, despite mounting evidence of war crimes.

Equally astonishing, Iran has just been voted onto the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women for a four-year term.

It was described by UN Watch as “absurd and morally reprehensible” in view of the country’s historic oppression of women.

NATO, created in 1949 to provide collective defence for allied countries, has long been neglected by its members, who’ve failed to pay their dues, much to America’s frustration.

It’s taken a threat to world peace to persuade countries to re-arm.

At home, there’s the NHS, born in 1948 to care for our health from cradle to grave.

Waiting lists appear insurmountable, GPs inaccessible and public faith is wavering.

And, with no review in sight, we continue to throw vast amounts of taxpayers’ money at it.

It’s time for a reset, both at home and abroad.

RICHARD DRAX

SOUTH DORSET MP