Jill Kirby

Burnham blocks reform

More evidence today that the TUC is dictating government policy on public services. Nick Timmins in the FT notes that Andy Burnham’s new guidance to health authorities requires them to treat NHS organisations as the “preferred providers” of care, reversing the Blair/Milburn reforms which opened up health care to private suppliers. By insisting that NHS

Budget 2009: Incompetent and vindictive

I almost felt sorry for Darling, as he delivered this preposterous Budget. Lacking Brown’s capacity for self-deception, he cannot possibly believe the growth forecasts he offered us, and on which his borrowing plans depend. There was nothing in today’s speech to suggest that the Government has the remotest idea of a credible plan to rebuild