The week in politics: World stage has an irresistible lure
On the one hand, division and acrimony; on the other, global consensus in a time of real need for unity. No wonder David Cameron’s focus has been overseas this week.
The world stage has not looked so dramatic in many a long time. It’s incredible that the ongoing unrest in the Middle East has been shunted to the also-rans: 30 people were gunned down by Yemeni security forces today, for example, but the ongoing nuclear disaster in tsunami-hit Japan and the developing Libyan situation have trumped that in the headline stakes. This is a stirring, momentous time for the planet. And thanks to David Cameron’s active internationalism, Britain is at the centre of events.
Huhne keeps nuclear on the table
Britain braces for Libya intervention
So we shouldn’t be surprised that, from the prime minister’s point of view, it’s been quite convenient to have a distraction from the drudge of domestic politics. If this week had just been about what’s going on in Britain, it would have been a miserable one for the prime minister. His NHS reforms alone have been savaged: by doctors on Tuesday, but also by Liberal Democrat delegates in their spring conference in Sheffield at the weekend. Ed Miliband made a good call in taking Cameron up on the issue in this week’s prime minister’s questions, but – as usual – couldn’t quite find the knockout punch. The question now becomes how far health secretary Andrew Lansley will be able to retreat, or even if he has the space to do so. They’ve already ruled out price competition, a major concession. But the fundamental principles of a market dynamic led by GP commissioning isn’t going to go away. This one is going to run and run.
Cameron and Clegg take stock after Lib Dems reject NHS reforms
Doctors vote to fight Lansley’s NHS reforms
PMQs: Cameron defies NHS reform critics
Not next week, though, for the Budget is set to dominate proceedings in parliament on Wednesday. George Osborne revealed seven days before the big day that the theme is set to be a switch “from rescue to reform”; yet polling from Ipsos Mori suggested persuading the public to switch their attention from the spending cuts now starting to make themselves noticed may need more than just a quick soundbite. Just look at Will Hutton’s review of public sector pay, and his encouragement to call for action against salaries in the private sector, to get a sense of quite how high feelings are running right now.
Hutton public sector report drags private companies into pay debate
‘Radical action’ needed in Budget
And that’s just a warm-up for Budget day next week. Join us on Wednesday for our blow-by-blow coverage, news stories, analysis, comment and more.
