Lansley gives Ben Bradshaw’s Brownies the response they deserve

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.