A few days ago, Joseph Dinnage had an interesting CAPX piece on reasons behind the likely failure of Andrew Burnham's National Care Service.
Burnham’s National Care Service is doomed to failure
The King of the North has spoken. In an emotive speech, Andy Burnham yesterday set out his vision for Britain.
The Prime Minister pledged to put Britain ‘on a new path’, and cursed Margaret Thatcher and the 1980s for killing ‘working-class aspiration’. What lies down this new path? A route back to the decade that preceded Thatcherism – the 1970s.
The whole piece is well worth reading as another reminder that Burnham is an antediluvian political throwback. He does not have an adequate grasp of the problems he faces nor the slightest clue as to how they might be tackled.
- Burnham announced plans to create a National Care Service modelled on the NHS
- We should reintroduce tax relief for private insurance, making independent healthcare more affordable
- Public satisfaction in our healthcare system has collapsed, despite the NHS receiving record funding
The King of the North has spoken. In an emotive speech, Andy Burnham yesterday set out his vision for Britain.
The Prime Minister pledged to put Britain ‘on a new path’, and cursed Margaret Thatcher and the 1980s for killing ‘working-class aspiration’. What lies down this new path? A route back to the decade that preceded Thatcherism – the 1970s.
The whole piece is well worth reading as another reminder that Burnham is an antediluvian political throwback. He does not have an adequate grasp of the problems he faces nor the slightest clue as to how they might be tackled.
What he may have grasped is that voters don't have a clue either so he may as well play on that. Yet as the next general election approaches, he needs a large dollop of undeserved luck or his party could demand something more than a political return to the 1970s.
Nationalisation is also on the agenda. Environment Secretary and veteran Leftie Angela Eagle will bring forward a bill to bring water into public ownership, and a new publicly owned Great British Grid will be established to compete against private companies to drive down energy costs. Most misguided of all his nationalisation drives is the new National Care Service (NCS).
11 comments:
So Happy Chappie Burnham is going to reintroduce Grammar Schools again to support ‘working-class aspiration’? Or is that a step too far?
DJ - he'll skirt that one as he doesn't seem keen on working-class aspiration, or any aspiration which isn't an aspect of Labour ideology. No lessons have been learned over many decades. It's weird.
"reintroduce tax relief for private insurance" Years ago I read that what makes private Care insurance unavailable in Britain is that the insurers can't calculate the odds of governmental whims radically changing the market. Thus the insurers would be taking on existential risk. So they don't.
"another reminder that Burnham is an antediluvian political throwback"
Classic, AKH.
dearieme - interesting, government whim sounds like a risk which must affect many investment decisions. Must deprive the UK of a great deal of investment we don't hear about because of it.
James - thanks, he's almost surprising in that respect.
"government whim sounds like a risk which must affect many investment decisions"ssssssssssss
Given given the proven abilities of the current shitshow
Yes, but a Care Insurance contract couldn't be wriggled out of once signed: that's why change would be an existential risk to the company. Whereas companies in other lines can always hope to find new customers, cease supplying old ones, modify products, sell buildings to clear debts, and so on.
Hello, hello. I'd missed this one on Guido.
\https://order-order.com/2026/10/01/rayner-took-20000-from-estate-agent-qualification-seller-weeks-before-making-qualifications-compulsory/
Jannie - yes, any major investment is risky if based on a calculated return which this government might plausibly reduce or eliminate.
dearieme - I missed that one too. She's shameless, sound as a £9 note.
One of the problems is that there are not that many people left who actually remember what it was like to live through the Wilson/Heath/Callaghan years. I am one of them, and I feel like quoting Burns: "...and forward though I cannot see, I think and fear."
Peter - I remember those times too. Thanks for the Burns quote, it fits our times so well. I'll draft a blog post based on the whole stanza, see if it works.
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