France spend more on their health service than we do, plus more of that spending goes on patients because doctors get paid half of what they paid in the UK, a lot of the increases in NHS spending made by New Labour went on doctors' wages.
But the thing is Mario any body who is left wing politically would not even align themselves with that bunch of usurpers let alone try and defend them. As a card carrying labour member and a union member I got to vote in the leadership contest, I'm ashamed to say I was seduced by Blair and voted for him, within a few months, to my shame I knew I'd been conned. However, that government did do some good with the min wage, rebuilding schools and hospitals but overall they were tories in all but name.
I forgot to add that within 12 months I had cancelled my labour party membership and I still havn't renewed it.
I agree that they did do some good, as you point out the minimum wage was one of their better achievements (although I still think it is set too low and should be closer to what we would consider a living wage). I think Blair seduced a lot of people (and not just traditional Labour voters) and was almost untouchable from when he succeeded the late John Smith up to the end of his first term.
Problem is with New Labour is they did loads of good things when they acted like a left wing party, and loads of bad things when they behaved like a right wing party (starting wars, deregulation, privitasation etc).
The problem is the management, bureaucratic and administration costs of back door privatisation. I could show you the figures but I'm sure you have little interest. All parties are to blame for this so no left or right issue for me.
Who is this left you refer to, since the 1945 Government they have all been mainstream then followed neo-lib policy of privatise the profits socialise the losses
Because they're the ones repeating the mantra "the NHS is the envy of the world", they say the same about the BBC, neither is true.
The last government was just following the same neo-liberal policy of privitising profits and socialising the losses. Most new labour ministers and those in the current administration are interchangable. I do not recognise this false left and right government seperation, just as a creation of the marketing men to create a false feeing of choice.
Evidence please that the mantra is stated that 'the NHS is the envy of the world'. Who is this left you refer to? Who is this they? The BBC is and always has been a creature of the state and nothing is discussed that moves much away from the status quo.
The left is anyone who disagrees with Tory right wing policy these days. They pull opinion via their media friends to the right and draw a line, then pull them further again and draw another line. They are so far to the right that politicians and institutions who have normally been regarded as right leaning have been branded left wing (the BBC etc now run by ultra thatcherite Patton) but most of it is done behind the scenes as we are seeing in the NHS etc they are very good at distorting legislation brought in by previous govt's with the help of their meda friends
Anyone who considers Cameron, a typical London chattering class liberal who has brought in gay marriage and wants to hand over British sovereignty to Europe "right-wing" has to be pretty far to the left themselves.
Of course Cameron is right wing. You just have a very narrow view of what being right wing should mean which extends far beyond fiscal conservatism to the kind of out dated views which luckily serve as an albatross around the Torys neck and leaves them floundering in modern Britain. To quote Will McAvoy (again) in The Newsroom: "I call myself a Republican 'cause I am one. I believe in market solutions, and I believe in common sense realities and the necessity to defend ourselves against a dangerous world and that's about it. Problem is now I have to be homophobic. I have to count the number of times people go to church. I have to deny facts and think scientific research is a long con. I have to think poor people are getting a sweet ride. And I have to have such a stunning inferiority complex that I fear education and intellect in the 21st century. But most of all, the biggest new requirement, really the only requirement, is that I have to hate Democrats."
I don't even vote Conservative, they will sell our sovereignty to Europe just like the other two parties. And The Newsroom is preachy garbage.
I see you ignore Italy which is ranked 2 and... ... is pretty much free at the point of access and modelled on the NHS. There are more GPs per capita than anywhere in the world, Having 'retired' here but being under 65 we don't yet qualify for our state pension so pay a measly 387 euros NI each per annum for full medical cover. Families with children are automatically assigned a paediatrician when they register with a GP and preventative medicine is high on the order of priorities. Prescription medicines cost 40 cents for multiple items. Blood tests (for us cost around 26 euros depending on how much you are tested for and a consultancy is around 26 euros but covers you for any subsequent related treatments / ops. Whilst many of the buildings and hospitals are not exactly modern the equipment is high spec, the doctors are very well trained and life expectancy and longevity are good. All this compared to the US where the private system results in them being ranked in the 30s with many people not even having access to medical aid and those that do pay a fortune. The medical profession and pharmaceutical companies hoover up most of the money there. Is that what you want?
Exactly, point proved. You don't think they are right wing because they aren't attuned to your narrow definition. Which when it comes to the right who oppose Europe is the most schizophrenic view in politics. UKIP claim to be pro-business yet anti-Europe. Which is why the right are knackered. The common sense right realise being in Europe fits the rest of their economic views, whereas the bonkers right get caught up in their jingoism. And the two tear themselves apart over it. BTW, I'm not saying whether Europe is correct or not, just pointing out that if you are a fiscal conservative and pro-business you should be *****ing all over Europe. Anyway, carry on. There's nowt better than a divided right.