Could I please start with a mini-rant?
I promise I’ll get onto the main topic in a minute!
I’ve spent the last few days digging into analysis around “costings” that have been put out by the main political parties ahead of the General Election; and now I’m sitting down to write to you, I was hoping to air my frustrations!
Whenever politicians suggest that investment is needed to improve public services, there is a response from columnists, think tanks and talk-show hosts that is as predictable as clockwork. “Well if these politicians want to spend money, then someone will have to pay”, they say with disapproving tones, wagging fingers and a general air of superiority. When I see this, I’m bemused. Of course someone has to pay. That’s fine, because lots of extremely wealthy people and corporations do not pay nearly enough!
But do you know what I find most frustrating of all? Most of the people trotting out these lines, telling ordinary people that investment can’t be magicked out of thin air are, themselves, ordinary people. Most journalists are not wealthy. Most columnists do not own a yacht. Why are they bending over backwards to act appalled at the notion of taxing the wealthy properly? The mind boggles...
OK... rant over!
Let’s talk about the Lib Dems and what they’re saying about the NHS…