Retired NHS. Global and liberal, not right or left. Also at @alanjstedman@mstdn.social
Sep 29, 2022 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Difficult thread to write this on - it might not be well received
Truss and Kwarteng doubling down overnight is to be expected. This is a cult, defined by their overwhelming belief in their world view. They are right, we are wrong. Check the comments by Minford and others
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The real aim behind last week's budget was to create the conditions where they would have an excuse to cut the state and decimate public services. That is their core aim. See their book, 'Britannia unchained' Banker's bonuses was always a distraction. It worked
2/10
Nov 21, 2021 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
Bit of a thread about the NHS.
People in the UK have since 1948 been able to get care free at the point of need. Originally most of that care was provided by Govt managed and funded providers of service. GPs were slightly outside that as 'independent practioners'
Over time service delivery has largely remained with NHS run and managed providers. That changed markedly this century. More and more services have been contracted out to the private sector. Often support services but more and more it's full frontline service provision
Mar 15, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Let's think about The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
This bill epitomises a very clear distinction between how Tory minds work and how for the want of a better phrase, 'liberal democratic' minds work.
The distinction can be summarised as Exclusion v Inclusion
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The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC) brings in a range of new measures. You don't have to look far to see that the dominant theme is, you can't do this and you can't do that. No noisy protests near Parliament (kudos to Steve Bray), no damaging statues etc
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Feb 25, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
It's about time we understood some basics about the NHS. Short thread
The biggest cost in the NHS is staffing - somewhere between 70-80% depending on which organisation you're looking at.
If you privatise parts of it then the only way a private organisation can make profit is to cut costs (or raise prices). That by definition will mean looking at the main cost area, staffing.
You can cut costs in two ways, cut numbers of staff or change their terms and conditions
May 27, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Been thinking overnight re Cummings.
Strategically there are a few issues.
If PM gets his way this time then backbenchers are disabled for a long time. 35+ realise this.
Challenging Johnson becomes a real problem for them at a time when some are questioning his ability.
Allowing Cummings a platform on Monday has opened up a range of issues about the role in UK of SpAds. Giving him oxygen has fundamentally shifted that role, set a precedent for the future.
That is exactly what Cummings wants, to change how Govt works. Remember Javid.
Apr 13, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Do you get the feeling we are not being told the full story of quite how bad it is?
