Tory spending plans could lead to NHS charging

[Pete]

This is rather scarey:

"Shadow chancellor says ‘extreme’ cuts implied are almost impossible and Tories would have to slash health spending, raise VAT or charge for NHS

There is a real risk that George Osborne would have to break his promise to protect NHS spending, start charging for healthcare or raise VAT if the Conservatives hold on to power, Labour’s Ed Balls has said.

As he published a dossier about the Conservatives’ spending plans, the shadow chancellor said the scale of cuts they implied was so “extreme and risky” that the plans would be almost impossible to carry out.

An analysis undertaken by Labour found that the Tory plans would mean £70bn of cuts to public spending in the next parliament – more than double the amount admitted to by David Cameron and George Osborne.

Balls said such proposals would entail a police force smaller than the level when records began in the 1970s, an army of a size not seen since the days of Oliver Cromwell, and a quarter of a million older people losing their social care."

My opinion is that the Tories have always wanted to privatise the NHS and they are creating a situation where it will become inevitable if they get elected again.

They really are an arrogant, selfish, greedy bunch and I wouldn't put anything past them. If it does become a pay-for service, their mates in the insurance industry will clean up.

[therealjr]

Of course there's no way that Ed Balls is exaggerating in order to scare voters?
Very very soon we are going to have to face facts that the last great socialist empire, the NHS is simply unsustainable in its present form. We are an ageing population and we are keeping people alive longer and offering them far more treatment than before. (Case in point being the M-I-L who had a knee replacement last year age 91!). Unless there's a massive hike in taxation or National Insurance payments it can't carry on. Chances are health insurance is going to be picking up the shortfall in the same way that personal pensions are picking up the gap in state pensions

[Fly]

Doesn't this go back to the same old same old.
How will the less unfortunate be able to afford healthcare, benefits ??
It doesn't give me much incentive to work !!

[Pete]

>> Of course there's no way that Ed Balls is exaggerating in order to scare voters?

There's always an element of that whenever a politician opens his mouth - politicians of ALL parties. Doesn't mean to say it's not true.

Let me make my position clear - there is enough money owed to the government by big business pals who don't pay their taxes, to solve the NHS crisis.

The government can find billions of pounds of taxpayers' money to bail out the banks, but will not find lesser amounts for the people of this country - yes, even the idiots who voted for them.