TAX TO RISE
Labour Promises a world-class NHS but,
guess what, it's Middle England who'll pick up the bill
By Paul Eastham

Cabinet Ministers launched a major campaign yesterday for big tax rises. Without them, they claimed, the NHS cannot be revived.

Twelve hours after Tony Blair warned of a huge tax increase in the April 17 budget, senior colleagues rushed to reinforce the message.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn insisted: "If we want sustained investment in the NHS, we will need to pay for it. I believe the best way of doing it - the fairest and most efficient way - is through general taxation."

The Tories, in a surprise break with previous policy, signalled that they agreed. Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox suggested taxes "may still have to rise", although he said later the party is still reviewing how to fund the NHS.

Experts said a Labour tax rise would be targeted solidly on middle-income earners. A rise in the upper limit of National Insurance is the most likely option - ministers repeatedly refused to rule out such a move during the general election campaign.

A drastic curb in the value of personal income tax allowances may also be high on the Budget agenda. That could force another million people into the higher 40 per cent tax band.

But there were warnings that, for all the stress on the NHS, the Government needs money from somewhere to continue its promised spending on other public services like education and transport. And health experts said simply throwing money at NHS problems would be enough without careful consideration of where and how to spend.
Daily Mail, Friday 22nd February 2002

CTM Comment: Is the answer to the National Health Service's woes even more money to benefit the medical and drug industries, or is it not reducing the number of NHS customers through proper diet and education? Who expects a politician to tell us what the medical industry has failed to do? Food, water and education, organic of course (including the education), and watch those hospital beds empty out. It won't happen, of course, until significant numbers of the public make their voices heard in unison. This is what the Campaign for Truth in Medicine is designed to co-ordinate.