I was at the Bromley Civic Centre yesterday morning – watching the opening of postal votes with Councillor Ruth Bennett. In the afternoon I canvassed in Courtfield Rise, West Wickham area with Robert Straker and the hard-working and very supportive Councillor, Hannah Gray (in photograph). The road has made a remarkable recovery after the water table rose and inundated gardens and cellars over a year ago. Then we went on to Hayes, meeting up with local councillors Stephen Carr, Diane Smith, Colin Smith and Peter Fortune, until the early evening.
There are now 5 days left until Polling Day. This is a General Election more than usually crucial to the well-being of every man, woman and child in the United Kingdom. Obviously I consider a result which puts David Cameron and a Conservative Government back in power to be vital to the country’s welfare. Any other result could be disastrous. If the voters get this wrong our country is in real trouble.
I simply don’t get why many people cannot understand that we cannot simply continue to live a life outside our means with no consequences. Other political parties suggest that so-called ‘austerity’ is something Conservatives relish. Of course we don’t – but we are realists. They always shout about ending ‘austerity’ and never dwell on the consequences. They also ignore the fact that getting control of our public finances is crucial to having first-class public services in areas such as health, welfare and education.
Look what a collapsing economy is doing in Greece. That country has seen drastic increases in infant mortality, suicide and depression since the government there made deep cuts to healthcare and social support services. According to the New Scientist its hospital budget has been cut by 25 per cent and its funding for mental health by 55 per cent. As a result suicides have increased by 45 per cent, cases of depression doubled and infant mortality has risen by 43 per cent.
The Greek experience is being echoed in other countries too. For instance Portugal has reportedly cut its health budget by 15 per cent and its form of free health service is in deep crisis too. By way of contrast, despite so-called austerity, our Government has increased the NHS budget of £100 billion per annum by £12.9 billion since 2010.
In the constituency of Beckenham the biggest NHS facility is the Beacon on Croydon Road. As a frequent visitor (and customer too) it seems to me that its usage and facilities have improved over the last 5 years which I reckon to be good news.
If other parties think they can borrow and spend more and thus increase our deficit with scant reference to the national consequences they will get a dreadful shock pretty quickly. It is us and particularly our children who will pay the price of such arrogance. Right now every baby born in the PRUH arrives in this world owing more than £23,000. This has to be fixed. I pray the voters remember that as they mark their crosses on ballot papers in 5 days.