The general election is two months away and the UK gets a new manifesto for manufacturing.
I believe something similar happened before the last three elections.
Sadly, neither Labour nor Conservative has given the engineering and manufacturing sector much of their attention.
There are the PR stunts with white-coated ministers and MPs on factory visits. But an effective industrial policy has been harder to spot.
"At the start of the last decade, we warned that the UK's economy was at a crossroads: either we grew our manufacturing base or our economy would suffer," says Steve Radley, director of policy at manufacturers' organisation, the EEF.
The EEF has published its 'Manufacturing Manifesto - Back at the Crossroads'.
After 18 months of recession, the industry is back once again at the crossroads.
"The current economic and political debate is stale, glossing over complex yet pressing practicalities of how to rebuild and rebalance our economy, how to repair the public finances and how to create jobs and boost investment," says Radley.
"The current debate is rooted in dated images of industry that simply do not recognise why modern manufacturing remains successful," says Radley.
"UK manufacturers are successful despite operating in a business environment that actively discourages their investment and growth," adds Radley.
But he remains hopeful that at last, the people in power are beginning to realise the value of manufacturing.
The EEF believes there is a chance to adopt a proactive strategy to grow markets and stimulate investment in innovation and skills.
It could also help to contribute to the repair of the public finances and even has implications for the low-carbon economy.
The arguments for a world-class manufacturing base are stronger than they have been for more than a decade.
We can but hope, but I get this strange feeling of déjà vu.
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