Looks 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 MP Minister of State for Health Services The Labour Party Head Office 39 Victoria Street London SW1H 0HA
14 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 MPAnd here’s Bradshaw’s letter which prompted the response:
Andrew Lansley MP Shadow Secretary of State for Health House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
December 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 2008
Given 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
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