Tories 'relaxed' about NHS crisis because they think election is won

[Northerner]

The government is 'relaxed' about the crisis in general practice because it thinks Labour can't win the general election, a former GP and health commentator has said.

Former GP Dr Phil Hammond, who covers health policy for Private Eye, said that ministers were ‘very relaxed’ about the NHS because they believe there is no effective opposition.

Plans to create large-scale accountable care organisations to run health and social care services across the NHS would eventually lead to all GPs becoming salaried employees, he added.

Citing a source ‘close to Jeremy Hunt’ Dr Hammond told the annual conference of Londonwide LMCs on Thursday: ‘They don't believe that Labour is electable. They are very relaxed about the state of the NHS, very relaxed about the queues in casualty, waiting lists going up again, and the disaster in general practice, because they don't believe Labour offers a credible opposition.’

http://www.gponline.com/tories-relaxed-nhs-crisis-think-election-won/article/1431867

I've got a lot of time for Phil Hammond, he's a very eloquent supporter of the NHS 🙂

 

[grovesy]

He is a sensible guy.
I believe he is probably right.

 

[FM001]

The Labour Party now is embarrassing and unelectable, voted for them through the good times and bad but the bad times have just got worse with Corbyn, McDonald & Abbott at the helm, sadly won't be voting this time around due to lack of interest in all things politics.

 

[Northerner]

The Labour Party now is embarrassing and unelectable, voted for them through the good times and bad but the bad times have just got worse with Corbyn, McDonald & Abbott at the helm, sadly won't be voting this time around due to lack of interest in all things politics.

The policies are popular when presented to the public, but without knowing whose policies they represent - if the election was on these policy proposals against the Tory record in government then it would be an easy Labour win. However, the right-wing media have successfully toxified Corbyn, just as they did with Miliband. With Miliband the policies were not distinct enough for voters to be swayed. Is it any wonder we get the government we deserve when the public are more influenced by how someone eats a bacon sandwich or wears an off the peg suit than the relentless undermining of public services and persecution of the poor, sick and disabled?

 

[mikeyB]

Dunno much about the Labour Party, they only have 1 MP in Scotland. I understand they are targeting three seats they might be able to win, including the one they have, and they have fewer seats in the Scottish parliament then the conservatives.

 

[Northerner]

Dunno much about the Labour Party, they only have 1 MP in Scotland. I understand they are targeting three seats they might be able to win, including the one they have, and they have fewer seats in the Scottish parliament then the conservatives.

Something I have never really understood is why we English should be so afraid of an SNP/Labour coalition I think it shows how successful the Tories can be at setting minds against certain things - why was a Con-Lib coalition OK, but a Left coalition not, and why do people seem to believe that? Why do the public believe that the crash was 'Labour's crash' when the clear evidence shows that it was a global banking crash? Miliband's Labour missed so many open goals in opposition and failed to defend against the Tory double-speak