Lansley gives Ben Bradshaw's Brownies the response they deserve
Peter Hoskin 4:25pmLooks like Ed Balls isn't the only one who's trying out Brownies based on Tory spending commitments at the moment. Health Minister Ben Bradshaw is doing his best to spread the idea that the Tories would cut health spending, despite Cameron's commitment to "protect" real terms increases in the health budget. He tried to push the Brownie in a letter last month, which I publish at the bottom of this post. First, though, Andrew Lansley's reponse - which was sent out today, and which is a textbook example of how to deal with the little manipulations that Brown & Co. seems to specialise in:
Ben Bradshaw MPAnd here's Bradshaw's letter which prompted the response:
Minister of State for Health Services
The Labour Party Head Office
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0HA14 January 2009
Dear Ben,
Thank you for your letter of December 2008. Since you omitted reference to our commitment to further real terms increases in health spending and my determination to secure improving outcomes, I must conclude your letter was merely a political stunt. So I will treat it with the disdain it deserves. Haven’t Health Ministers got better things to be doing?
For the sake of public interest, I am making this letter available to the media.
Yours Ever,
Andrew
Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Andrew Lansley MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AADecember 2008
Dear Andrew
I am writing to you about a crucial decision we face in 2009: to continue to invest in the NHS in difficult times, or to make deep cuts that would damage our health service.
As you will be aware, as part of the fiscal stimulus we announced that we would bring forward £100m to upgrade up to 600 GP surgeries to training practices.
I am disappointed that your party have opposed this action. It is crucial that we bring forward investment to ensure that we come out of the downturn sooner and stronger and ready to take advantage of the upturn.
As you will be aware, in addition to opposing this investment, David Cameron announced earlier this month that your party will be committed to spending less than Labour at the next election, meaning further cuts to key services.
"We will not match Labour's new spending plans for 2010 and beyond."
David Cameron, Speech to the LSE, 9 December 2008Given the level of public concern about these key areas, I hope you will be clear whether you support our investment in the NHS or David Cameron's cuts.
Because of the public interest in these issues, I am releasing this letter to the media.
Yours sincerely
Ben Bradshaw MP
Minister of State for Health Services
Previous
JGS
January 14th, 2009 5:01pm Report this commentMinisters of State deliberately misleading us - surely not. Bradshaw's on the public payroll - aren't there rules about this sort of thing?
Slim Jim
January 14th, 2009 5:06pm Report this commentIt might have been better if Andrew had told him that the Conservatives would fund the £100m by taking a very sharp scalpel to the layers of bureaucracy and superfluous posts, etc.
Don
January 14th, 2009 5:07pm Report this commentMiiiiaaaaoooowwww!!
Robert Williams
January 14th, 2009 5:13pm Report this commentAt least he talks of spending & "investment".
Brown at PMQs claims to be funding additional programmes. That is funding as in borrowing.
strapworld
January 14th, 2009 5:29pm Report this commentWe are heading for a very early 2009 General Election. I would say before June (I admit I was wrong about February!) But the longer Brown leaves it the more the people will realise he has not got a clue!
Therefore the mantra "The Do Nothing Conservatives" is being used by all Labour personnel.
It will be a "Back me or Sack me" General Election and one which will create great difficulties for Cameron - especially after the saviour of the world Obama follows a Brown path in the USA.
If I was Cameron I think I would be quite concerned. His apparoach seems to be one of delight that the country is going down the pan.
Action - the right Action - is what this country needs.
David Bouvier
January 14th, 2009 6:32pm Report this commentI am intrigued by what the headed papers was, and who prepared the Bradshaw letter.
Surely you write as a Minister from the Department and as an MP from the Palace of Westminster. When does the "Minister of State for Health" write from Labour Party HQ?
Not seeing a big scandal here, but I am curious about which Dolly-unit writes this guff and asks Bradshaw to rubber stamp it.
seb
January 14th, 2009 7:52pm Report this commentThe idea of putting Bush on trial for war crimes is very popular with many in the UK. If this happens, can we not put Gordon the Moron on trial for his crimes - p*ssing hundreds of billions of pounds, most gouged out of the pockets of low-paid and modestly paid Brits, up the nearest tree, then having the nerve to call this 'investment'? Surely there are some impeachment procedures one could dig up and use to at least attempt to bring The Moron to justice?
Ben Bradshaw? Glove puppet. Talking vegetable. Andrew Lansley might as well have put his question to a mushroom. What a waste of time.
EyeSee
January 14th, 2009 8:00pm Report this commentRules, JGS? Yes there are, for 'honourable gentlemen', but no effective enforcement. Blair spotted this and based his entire New Labour project on lying and denying. No one can do anything about it, move on.
Athesius the Facilitator
January 14th, 2009 8:15pm Report this commentStrapworld: I think you are being unfair on Cameron regarding his delight at Britain going down the pan.
He has to respond for goodness sake, what do you expect him to do, start crying or something. The one who is enjoying it is the Prime Minister because he is the only one who can actually "do anything" and it helps him to grandstand. Brown put us here and he should be the target for "all" who wish to throw some blame around.
Ivy Eileen
January 15th, 2009 2:05pm Report this commentStrapworld - please remind me who it was who joked about "another bank failure" when a mobile 'phone rang during his Press Conference.
Back to top