The services were not “cut back” what was cut, was the speed in which spending was increased. Not once (less NHS Wales, Labour) was the budget cut for the NHS.

All parties agreed that austerity was needed, Brown had started it, now they distance.

1/

EU rules meant we had to cut the deficit, and certainly couldn’t leave it at 10% which was around £150bn a year. (Also why the debt increased by as much as it did, especially with investment spending).

We are ranked number 2 on the preparedness scale for pandemics...

2/

...that’s because of the preparations put in place by the conservative government, there was an act introduced in 2013 that looked at measures to take, and is one of the reasons we rank so high.

3/

So those that argue for remaining in the EU, can’t be against austerity as it’s a legal requirement. (That they’ll now say only applies to Euro members, that’s not true, it’s a fiscal rule for all as it’s a money club. Some put in, some take out).

4/

This pandemic hasn’t exposed weaknesses due to cuts, because the cuts haven’t really existed to the extent that the left like to claim. Also, if the government had done nothing then people wouldn’t have lent money to the government causing cuts like Greece had.

5/

Those cuts in Greece, most hospitals had their budgets cut by around 50%. Do you think that would have helped the NHS? I don’t. So I think each party was right to agree austerity was needed. Just a shame the Labour Party now decide to say they’d have never done the same.

6/

The difference with the spending now (how I see it) is, it’s going to increase the deficit (maybe even higher than after the crash) but austerity won’t be needed (assumption) to reduce the deficit back down. Once the pandemic is over, the additional spending stops. Deficit drops!

There isn’t really much to compare between the global crash and the pandemic, but MPs that try and blame Austerity for us being in the same position as every other country in the EU needs to stop. It’s counterproductive, and purely point scoring while people die! Sickening!

8/8

P.S - she is right we are going to have to deal with the debt, because interest alone is now half the NHS budget. We can’t just leave it to the next generation, we owe it to them to deal with it!