As only wealthy people can afford the half cost then the measure is by definition helping only those people. The money is also going outside the NHS and funding private building and profits instead of staying in the NHS.
Yes, of course Labour are having to do a similar thing thanks to 18 glorious years of neglect of the NHS by the tories - but that is paying the whole cost on the basis of need not the ability to pay. A clear difference.
What, even the Monster Raving Loony Party? 
http://www.omrlp.com/
If you’re all so discontented with your choices, why don’t you all vote LibDem? Entirely regardless of whether their policies (if they even have any) are workable, even a slight increase in their share of seats is bound to shake things up and make a PR referendum a likelier prospect.
I really want this guy not to lose his deposit - he’s standing in my constituency. I think he might get my vote.
I have voted for them, and probably will again. However, I’ve only ever lived in very safe seats (both Tory and Labour). There’s a dilemma when somebody lives in a marginal seat: eg. if their Tory MP is fighting for his seat against a strong Labour vote, should somebody dissatisfied with Labour for not being left-wing enough vote Lib Dem, and increase the chance of a Tory victory, or stick to Labour?
Precisely my dilemma. I’m in a natural Tory seat they lost by a couple of hundred votes last time round. A vote for anyone but Labour is a vote for The Bigot Party.
Firstly private medicine is within the reach of any family that can afford a package holiday. A hip operation on BUPA is about £5k, so £2,500 with a sub. If you’re working you can get hold of that kind of cash. What is really expensive is long term invasive care - eg chemotherapy, which the NHS will still provide.
The same would be true of day school education (a decent day school can be had for £5k pa - ie £50 pwk with a 50% sub) (If you’re worried about subsidising kids at Eton - top limit it).
And when exactly are Labour going to stop blaming the Tories? - they’ve had eight years - and things are much much worse. Assuming they get in this time that will be twelve years will they still be saying “a big boy did it and ran away”?
Making sure that everyone has the worst available experience isn’t a very attractive propsition to me. Still; each to their own.
You’re not in the real world. A package holiday costs a fraction of that - £2.5k is over two month’s net pay on the average wage.
I’m taking Gordon Brown’s “hard working family” as an example and I’m sending them to Spain in the high season (they’ve got two teenage kids).
Adults would be about £500 each - A grand
Kids about £350 - £700
£800 spenders for a fortnight doesn’t sound lavish to me - And that’s an archer and a monkey you’ve spent. I’m basing this on my pals expenses - and most of them pay MUCH more than that and they aren’t all loaded.
I know plenty of people on above-average incomes who would be shocked at the idea of that.
And even if we take your analysis at face value, you still haven’t justified the ‘50% subsidy’ system’s discrimination against those on below-average incomes.
Oh, and you’re also using the spending on four people to pay for one person’s healthcare…
Don’t worry, that’s how all rich Londoners speak 
It’s a widly held belief (possibly not on this board though) that a ‘none of the above’ option on the ballet paper would win by a landslide…
Me too. Although i’m in a Tory seat, and hoping my vote will help kick the sitting MP out. Although i generally don’t agree with traditional Tory policies, i recognise that there are arguments in favour of them, and i can respect that. This time though, they’re running such a dirty nasty single issue campaign i really really want to see them do badly, so they don’t try something like this again. I just hope they are enough people who feel the same way to really make a difference…
Not at all. Everyone’s waiting time goes down, not just the rich. The NHS are making a net profit as they’re only spending half the money they would otherwise have to.
‘Everybody’s’ wait goes down by a few hours. The rich have their waiting time go down to zero. Fair?
And no, as has been pointed out earlier, the expenditure within the NHS can’t be measured simplistically in comparison to Bupa charges. Who trains doctors? Who trains nurses? Who oversees many medical advances, innovations, etc?
And then what? The seat remains empty until the next general election? Or would you hold a special by-election?
At the 1929 Australian Federal election the then Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce, lost his seat.
This election is indeed very boring. I live in a safe Labour seat and have little idea for whom I should vote. Hopefully there will be hustings today in the town centre.
If you’re hanging around with people who can’t lay their paws on £2,500 you want to stop hanging around bus stops with scratters.
Everyone who owns their own home can do this (and could easily do the £5,000) and if they don’t own their own home they’re simply not trying (although it’s a fair bet that the council house will have playstations, sky TV , £100 trainers for the ASBO kids, and mum and dad will be covered with Elizabeth Duke bling.).
It’s about being grown-up and denying yourself some penny-ante treats to make sure you have a better future so it’s quite simple - lose the Nike shit and pay for an education that won’t turn your brats into morons. A decent education is £100 a week. That’s affordable. If that isn’t at least make sure you have books in the house and turn the TV off from time to time.