Prisons are more less privatised now aren't they? The usual suspects such as Serco and G4S syphoning billions of taxpayers money to their shareholders.
There is some privatisation. My friend, who told me about all of this and who used to work at a prison, says about 10% are privatised. But they all answer to those I mentioned, who are almost all state employed, whether directly or through QUANGOS. All institutions now have this huge barnacle off excessive bureaucracy attached to them.
Labour have made a decent start on cutting QUANGOs. They've abolished the largest NHS England, along with others in the NHS such as Healthwatch England, and the National Guardians Office. They've also launched a general review of public bodies, demanding departments justify or close public bodies not directly controlled by ministers. Give them a bit time to see how far they get is my view.
Well they say they have abolished NHS England, but not one job has yet been lost. Up to the other week that is. And eternal reviews are what all governments do. They kick the can down the street. The Tories do this too. And in their first year, Labour have set up another THIRTY new QUANGOS. They all say it. They all even use the same phrase, " bonfire of the QUANGOS". But they don't mean it They don't have the stomach for it, not does any party. It's too much of a job and they are terrified of getting stick from the BBC and co. But one day, sooner rather than later, it will have to be done, or it will do itself.
Reform’s policy is swingeing cuts to services like we’ve never seen to fund tax cuts for the wealthy with a pittance for the lowest income. The privatisation of prisons was bad enough. Probation even worse. I like social enterprises and charities delivering community services but essential programmes like that where coordination is essential no. I’m not against quangos entirely, they are just the same as needing a department to deliver in many cases but they can do it shackle free and bring wider investment, they just work for a different employer There is waste and overspend, I recognise that and messy subsets sometimes mess with systems. I want more services not less maybe funded by reducing wasted. Done well they increase economic outputs by meeting health and social needs. Society needs them. Cohesion happens when people meet. Prevention happens when people have services. It’s a wise investment in prevention and in the absence of income people need things provided. You seem to have been sucked into the idea we shouldn’t touch wealth. The bonds you talk about are from people richer than countries. **** their % increase and start taxing assets. They won’t even notice. They’ll still have plenty of change for posh dog food if you took 6% off them and made the world work more effectively for more people.
Have a read of the 10 year health plan. It’s all about better services more efficiently, early intervention to save further ahead. Imagine if we just sacked load of health workers or even the back room team without implementing a better plan. I’m glad you’re not in charge or we’d be ruined now, ahead of if/when reform run health when we’ll be ****ed anyway.
You don't just close something overnight, you need to evaluate what functions need to be maintained and ensure the transfer of those functions before closing the legacy body. To do otherwise would be irresponsible. I'm willing to give Labour another couple of years to see how this plays out.
I’m not happy with Labour. Not keen on Starmer but really it’s the back room I have beef with. I think if they had rid of Starmer and McSweeney things would potentially change and they’d be electable. Ideally to Burnham but I cant see how. However, I see good policy areas so they aren’t all bad. They’ve done some really dumb things.
