Where has the money for the NHS and schools gone?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I'm not an economist so please cam someone explain this in lay terms to me?

The NHS and schools need far more funding. Along with other public services. But why is this? Taxes have risen, some costs have gone down, and yet there's not as much funding as,say, 20 years ago.

I work in local government. We've had wage stagnation for at least 10 years. In real terms, my pay is about 20% less. That's the same in a lot of other public services. I appreciate that other costs, especially building ones, have gone up.

Given that, as far as I can see, taxes haven't gone down, why is there now far less money to pay for public services?

You actually believed HS2 was about capacity!! Oh dear! Get the northern dc educated (it’s possible!) and work in the North. Do you honestly think the south is teeming with apprenticeships ? You are deluded. What we probably do have is more determined people. Definitely in London. They want to do well and have worked hard for their school results. Many immigrant families have the drive to do well and I applaud them. They want the best for dc. I have this sinking feeling the north just blames everyone else.