Public Services
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.
Unionists losing confidence in police, claims DUP leader
Amidst a highly charged by-election campaign in Mid Ulster, the first minister has warned that Unionists in Northern Ireland are losing confidence in the police force.
Tory drive to limit foreign students is damaging Britain’s reputation abroad
The UK had nine institutions in the top 100 universities this year - three fewer than in 2011, according to the latest figures from the Times Higher Education. The Tories were warned that imposing an arbitrary limit on student numbers would damage Britain's educational reputation abroad.
Private sector competition had ‘negative effect’ on NHS productivity
Private sector competition in the NHS has had a "small but significant" negative impact on productivity, with NHS Trusts in areas where there is a monopoly performing better than those where there is greater private sector competition, according to a report out today.
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.