Andy Burnham is certainly [isuggesting[/i that they'd repeal NHS legislation.



They're being very cagey at present – possibly because they feel that they might as well let this lot just balls up the entire thing and remind people of what they're like, or possibly because, given their own adherence to neo-liberalism under Blair and, to a far lessor extent, Brown.



Again, Burnham (via Twitter) is agreeing that serious policy change is required – when there'll be any flesh on the bones of that remains to be seen.

Absolutely!







Totally agree.

I suspect more of these are going to come dripping through at a rate which means it could last for months.



New junior transport minister [url=http://road.cc/content/news/65839-new-transport-minister-convicted-2009-careless-driving-incident-left-cyclistinvolved in an incident which left a cyclist with a broken neck[/url. Four penalty points, didn't even have to attend court.

Burnham has said it outright in parliament before now.



Not repealing the previous government's legislation started with Thatcher believe it or not. She didn't repeal the closing of grammar schools for example. Her idea was if you spent all your time undoing what the last lot did you would never get any of your own policies through and I think all government's have adopted this approach ever since. Very little ever gets repealed.



However repealing the NHS legislation rather than making platitudes about reforming it really is Burnham and Labours only option if they want any credibility. It would also be a big vote winner.

Amazing the number of Tories who forget this (the education point in particular) – as well as the fact that it was Thatcher's government that scrapped O levels and replaced them with GCSEs.







Agreed.

I'd go further than that. I'd be letting the privateers know that the work's coming back in house with zero compensation

That is what this government said about the ID card scheme so I don't see why not.

And if your policy is diametrically opposed to the law, that's clearly bonkers.

It's one of the risks you run when investing. See also the railways

The trouble is, though, it's not just a question of having the time ... it's cost as well, destroying or dismantling something is cheaper than rebuilding it.

The current lot are bent on the removal of as much public provision as they can get away with, in the knowledge that, once changed, there won't be the cash, confidence or time to re-provide it.

And the so-called Lib Dems in the cabinet are too cowardly to stand up and say no.

If this lot get a second term, we can say goodbye to the free or universal provision of anything ...from health and education right through to the safety nets of benefits for social casualties ... and hello to a society more divided than it has been since the heyday of Victorian hypocrisy, where being born poor means you stay poor and die young.

The cabinet re-shuffle demonstrates just who Cameron rates highly and they are all shifty in one way or another.

Are you butch enough to have Ed Balls fetch you coffee? www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... CMP=twt_gu

Are you butch enough to have Ed Balls fetch you coffee? www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... CMP=twt_gu

Quote McClennan="McClennan"Are you butch enough to have Ed Balls fetch you coffee? www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... CMP=twt_gu'" It's like anything, be it racism, sexism, homophobia, snobbery or just being a pillock, you can't hide it forever and it eventually gets out. The fact that Cameron comes from a world where someone who gets a coffee is somehow "less" than other people is probably one of the nicer aspects of that public schoolboy b&stard.

Quote McClennan="McClennan"Are you butch enough to have Ed Balls fetch you coffee? www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... CMP=twt_gu'" It's like anything, be it racism, sexism, homophobia, snobbery or just being a pillock, you can't hide it forever and it eventually gets out. The fact that Cameron comes from a world where someone who gets a coffee is somehow "less" than other people is probably one of the nicer aspects of that public schoolboy b&stard.