Labour unveils ‘new ambition’ for NHS

Labour has pledged to create a healthy Britain, as Tony Blair revealed plans to create a “genuine National Health Service”.

However, the row between Labour and the Conservatives on the health issue has intensified as Conservative leader Michael Howard accused Labour of ‘lying’ about the Tories' health policy.

Speaking at a press conference on the NHS in Birmingham, Mr Blair pledged to “create a genuine National Health Service with services that help individuals, families, children and pensioners to keep fit and well, not just a sickness service treating people when they are ill.”

Mr Blair said that children were “at the heart” of Labour’s proposals and he announced plans to raise the quality of school dinners, introduce “tough new nutritional standards” for school meals; introduce clearer labelling on foods and restrict the advertising of unhealthy food to children.

The Labour leader also pledged to invest in new school sports facilities, as well as guarantee at least two hours of sport per week for children.

Mr Blair said: “For us, government’s duty is to deliver opportunity and security for all in this fast changing world; to help hard working families and pensioners keep themselves fit and healthy; to live the full and fulfilling lives they choose, with the government on their side, not on their back.”

Yesterday, Labour’s election co-ordinator Alan Milburn accused the Conservatives of ‘letting the cat out of the bag’ over their plans for the NHS. He claimed that the Conservatives proposed health voucher scheme would take around £1 billion from the NHS and use it to subsidise people who could already afford private healthcare.

However, Mr Howard hit back today, challenging Mr Blair over what he called “Labour election lies” over the Conservatives health plans.

The Conservative leader challenged Mr Blair to remove all campaign material that suggested that an incoming Conservative government would introduce charges for NHS operations. He also personally signed one of Labour’s petitions against the introduction of fees for hospital operations, saying that he was “totally opposed” to the suggestion.

Mr Howard said: “Mr Blair started this campaign by lying about our spending plans. When it became clear he couldn’t sustain those claims, he dropped them. Now he’s resorting to false claims about Conservative plans for hospitals – he’s put them on posters, on campaign literature and leaflets.”

However, the Labour leader refused to withdraw the charges, saying that it was “his [Michael Howard's] policy, not ours, and if he is embarrassed by it, it is up to him to withdraw his policy.”

Mr Blair said: “We will not be withdrawing a single one of our claims about Conservative policy on cuts and charges. Mr Howard has made his policy bed and he has to lie in it and we will expose the reality of his cuts and charges plans between now and polling day.”

(KMcA/GB)