When Tony Blair came to York at the height of the flood crisis, he said: "We have to make sure that proper flood protection is put in place. We are going to have to put more money into it."

His deputy, John Prescott, on his visit to Ryedale, said he felt for the flood victims. "It helps you begin to understand how desperate this situation is."

At the time they acted like the cavalry, here to save flood-hit Yorkshire residents from future suffering. But the Prime Ministerial entourage has long since ridden back to Westminster, accompanied by the national media pack. We are left wondering whether they had anything more to offer than tea and sympathy.

The Government's initial £51 million boost for national flood defences seemed generous enough. But that was put in context by the Environment Agency, which estimated that the bill for new defences in Yorkshire alone could reach £161 million.

Despite the Government's fine words, it is demanding that local authorities contribute a large chunk towards these expensive capital projects. That has led to a depressingly inevitable financial wrangle.

While North Yorkshire and York councils will, reluctantly, stump up more cash, many others will not.

Authorities such as Bradford and Derbyshire have no intention of putting up council tax to pay for an increased levy to the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee. Their stance is understandable.

Most cash-strapped authorities are faced with hiking council tax by more than inflation while still cutting services. Residents would not take kindly to coughing up even more to subsidise flood defences in distant North Yorkshire.

The result: stalemate. And that threatens to sink Environment Agency plans to fast-track the £4 million project to protect twice-hit Malton and Norton.

The only answer is to pay for flood defences out of central funds.

Mr Blair and Mr Prescott must recognise that, and quickly. Otherwise they will be remembered as the men who promised much but delivered little.