Dec 2003
Spin - we've all seen so much of it from this government. A complaint
about their spin is nothing new - but even though we compain about it, it
just gets worse and worse. They never learn. This lot didn't win
their way into government. Basically the Tories self-destructed. They
spent so much time fighting each other they didn't have time to fight labour.
On top of that there were a couple of Tories who messed things up by
taking cash in return for asking questions. Suddenly the Tories were the
party of sleaze and Labour got in by offering 'open and honest government'
(Excuse me while I pause to laugh). And have they offered open and honest
government? No chance!! Even at the election when they first got back
in there were questions raised about the legitimacy of one of Scottish results
- and it's gone downhill from there. As far as sleaze goes this bunch
make the Tories look like a bunch of amateurs. How the hell did they
get in for a second term?
But what is it that has made me so angry this time round? Well,
we all know how they like league tables - for schools, for the Police, for
hospitals. This little story concerns a hospital. Hospitals which
get three stars qualify for a range of benefits including £1m in extra
funding, more freedom, the possibility of applying to become a foundation
hospital. The hospital in question fell from a three star rating to
a two star rating. Is this a problem, you might ask? Well, no
- it shows where they need to improve. But yes, there is a problem if
it is in the Prime Minister's constituency. So what do they do? Do
they let the hospital improve? No, they change the method by which
the rating is calculated and, surprise, surprise, 24 hours later the hospital
has a three star rating. A leaked e-mail shows that this was deliberate
and calculated.
This really shows this government for what it is - nothing solid,
no foundations. It's all image. We are lied to all the time - we really
cannot believe a word they say. How on earth do they think they have
any credibility at all. We used to laugh at the old Soviet Union when
a statement would be put out by the Kremlin. We knew we couldn't believe
it. Now it's happening here (and in other ways, too - more of that later).
You have been warned.