Public Services

Royal Mail is part of the fabric of the nation – we don’t want to see it ripped apart

It is highly likely that the government will begin the privatisation of Royal Mail later this year.

Along with a sell off comes the real threat of stamp prices hitting £1. Price regulation on most stamps was scrapped to boost its attractiveness to investors. It is also quite possible that Royal Mail’s VAT exemption will become unlawful. Add VAT to just one price increase similar to the last one and the first class stamp would hit 94p.

Why we need a political campaign to reinstate the NHS

By removing the mandate on government to provide a health service, the Health and Social Care Act 2012 is the crowning achievement of the architects of this long recessional from universality. Our response must be political too.

The Section 75 debate

Jos Bell reports from the Commons on the debate over Section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act.

Patients likely to lose out in independent Scotland

If Scotland achieves independence from the UK, patients north of the border requiring specialist surgery elsewhere in the UK could have to go through the same process as if they were travelling to a European Union state, leading, some argue, to delays in treatment and medical costs having to be paid by the patient.