You will never spend enough on the NHS. I would love more money to have gone in, but austerity was biting in every sector of government. The Tories have massively reduced the deficit. That will stand us in far better stead going into this virus crisis and no doubt the related recession to follow. Without that, we would turn into Venezuela in coming years and be the poor man of Europe as we were in the 1970's.
I don't see an answer to my question there, Goldie. Did austerity cause any early deaths in this country? If so, and if you reject the 120,000 estimate, how many would you say it caused? Wouldn't you say that we'd have been better prepared for this crisis if the Tories hadn't decimated the NHS and social care? Every nation will face similar decisions after the Corona Recession to those they faced after the Bankers' Crash. Do you really think that more austerity will be the right way forward?
The mental gymnastics required to blame Labour for a global economic crisis and simultaneously not find fault in the Tories’ handling of Coronavirus and the economic ****show to come is going to be glorious to watch.
I've answered the question on numbers. I'm not qualified. If some lives could have been saved, you have to weigh that against the benefits of a more robust economy which will no doubt also save lives now and in the future. I will never believe that adding to the massive debt left in 2008 would have been the right thing to do. The economy had to be balanced and even the left wing Lib Dems agreed with that in coalition.
That is not the argument v Labour, which was they took on large amounts of debt leading up to 2008 on the basis of Brown's "no more boom or bust" mantra. Then the bust came.
I wonder if I could put a bet on somewhere that Boris will announce the loosening of restrictions on VE Day. Just a hunch
For ****'s sake, Goldie. You'd make a brilliant Tory MP - never answer a question. I'll try again - and I know you're not an expert, but you could use logic and common sense. Was Tory austerity responsible for an unspecified number (more than one, but possibly less than 120,000) of early deaths in the UK?
I concede austerity may have contributed to mortality rates but there may be lives saved by strengthening the economy for the future - and not saddling today's kids with mountains of debt
I miss the experts on this thread that couldn’t call Trump/Brexit/Tory election ( Jezza ). It amazes me how some keep coming back spouting the same old rubbish?
