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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
The reform the NHS needs is proper funding
DIANE ABBOTT MP condemns those in Labour who echo Tory rhetoric on healthcare — ‘being realistic’ and talking good fiscal sense to the taxpayer means rejecting privatisation and making the case for a truly public service

SOME people may be startled that Labour leader Keir Starmer is using Tory rhetoric to talk about the NHS. The key word is “reform” and phrases are used like “get real about reform.” These are euphemisms for opening up the NHS to the private sector.

For instance, it could mean insurance or co-payments — and the US model has meant that healthcare is the biggest cause of bankruptcy in that country. Pro-Starmer commentators have been anxious to reassure us all by claiming that what Starmer means by “reform” has no resemblance to Tory “reform.” But in reality, it means the same thing.

Starmer is using Tory rhetoric for a reason. And for the avoidance of doubt, he has placed his latest article calling for “reform” in the leading Tory newspaper, the Daily Telegraph.

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