Eight years ago, Tony Blair sat on Sir David Frost’s sofa and pledged that Labour would spend 8% of GDP on health. Brown called up afterwards in a fury, saying “you’ve spent my f**king budget”. One wonders what David Cameron said to Andrew Lansley after his Times interview where he says 11% of GDP should be spent on health. A number of responses spring to mind:-
1) Please explain to me why you considered it helpful to come up with this 11% figure. Please. I’m interested.
2) Did anyone authorise this 11% figure? Or was it in the faxed instructions the BMA send you each morning in large type?”
3) How am I supposed to handle the rest of the Shadow Cabinet who all want spending on their departments? Davis wanted extra cash to say he’d pay the policemen, a pittance.

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