The argument that the Tories are anti-NHS and Labour are pro-NHS is simplistic and one sided. And ultimately dangerous. In fact, it was the very blinkered argument that led us to this point. All parties have historically been complicit. If you look at what ‘New’ Labour did with PFIs and Foundation Trusts, what does it amount to if not pre-privitisation? ‘New’ Labour introduced measures that Thatcher would only have dreamt of.
Labours manifesto ‘solution’ is that although they intend to repeal the 2012 Health and Social Care Act – which is undeniably a positive step – they make absolutely no indication that they plan to open up and renegotiate the PFI contracts. This, is just pouring £30bn down the corporate-banking sluice. At best, it is a partial solution that favours the banks and PFI Consortia. While we are all Tory bashing – a real and informed public debate is suppressed.
The toxic burden of PFI debt alone could bring down the NHS. From the Consortia side the capital investment has been re-financed down to virtually 0% – while the NHS will have to continue to pay ‘Unitary Charges’ (including management fees, service charges, etc.) for the full life of the contract (sometimes longer than the life expectancy of the building?!?) Basically, It amounts to free money to the Consortia – and a debt-burdened NHS for us. How do you “reverse privatise” or limit “excess private profits” on contracts that have decades to run?
The bulk of the Labour PLP/NEC showed their hand in the recent leadership contest. Who was Owen Smith if not a Big-Pharma-wolf in a ‘socialist-sheepskin’ corporate shoe-in for the job of Labour leader? (He was certainly portrayed as one at the time, or have we all forgotten?)
Labour may be the better choice – but a safe pair of hands? We need a much deeper analysis an more informed debate beyond a reflexive knee-jerk yes.
If we merely vote Labour kick the can down the road for the next five years – we may lose the NHS anyway. And yes, if not all, Labour would have to shoulder a fair weight of blame.
Am waiting for the not true socalism labour response, labour and there supporters do not get to wipe the slate clean and re write history