Political blog 14: Hannan stirs up NHS row and Labour in limbo over Kent candidates
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I don't imagine that
David Cameron is terribly pleased with Dan
Hannan, the Conservative MEP who has waded into the debate
in America over health reforms by saying that he wouldn't wish the
NHS on any country.
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Mr Cameron has been forced to issue a forthright statement
re-asserting the party's position - namely that it supports the NHS
and is committed to a publicly-funded health care system.
Dan has a bit of form in this area and can be a touch of a
maverick on a range of issues. He won't be that upset about the
furore he has caused and the embarrassment to his party because
he'd prefer there to be a proper debate.
And in among the comments causing the headlines are one or two
valid points. If it's true that the NHS is the third biggest
employer in the world after the Chinese Red Army and the Indian
state railway, there is a legitimate issue about the protection of
vested interests to be discussed, although I've never heard anyone
complain that the Chinese Red Army is top-heavy with bureaucrats
and people who have experience of the Indian state
railway tell me it's rather efficient.
The problem with any discussion about the NHS is that
politicians live in constant fear that anything they say might be
construed as suggesting either a) they think it's inefficient and
b) that they want to privatise it.
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Labour is looking
for two new prospective parliamentary candidates in Kent after the
announcement that Derek Wyatt
(Sittingbourne and Sheppey) and Dr Howard Stoate
(Dartford) are to stand down.
But candidates won't be in place for some time, according to my
sources. The selection process won't get underway until after the
Labour conference in early October - much to the frustration of
local party chiefs - because Labour's NEC is overseeing the
process.
I'm told that one reason for the delay is that both associations
may be ordered to adopt all-women shortlists by the national party
and arrangements need to be in place before the process can
happen.
Both seats are marginal and being heavily targeted by the
Conservatives and any delay in selecting candidates will only
hamped Labour's efforts to cling on to them when the election
comes.
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Stand by for an Autumn of discontent as Kent's local
councils wrestle with financial black holes and a squeeze on their
spending.
KCC has already made ominous noises about the
grim financial outlook, as the Government puts the brakes on public
spending despite rising demand for its services.
As yet, no detailed figures are out but let's hope any hole
isn't quite as cavernous as Norfolk County Council.
Finance officers there have estimated a grant freeze in 2011-12
and 2012-13 could cause a £140m black hole in the council’s
accounts over the next three years.
Friday, August 14 2009
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