Rebuild economy for benefit of all in society
sums to build rubbish houses. Our food system is insecure and does not provide a nutritious and healthy diet for everyone. Between a third and a half of our food is imported ( depends on measuring by volume or value). The business plan of supermarkets is just-intime supply chains. This is financially efficient. The recent buying surge revealed the fragility of the system. Brexit, with additional controls and longer supply chains, will make matters worse and should be postponed. The Government has abdicated responsibility for healthy food and given in to big business in allowing the production of cheap food containing too much sugar, fat and salt. This food is addictive and the result is an obesity crisis. The UK has the potential to grow far more of its own food. Quality food is more expensive but a healthy population will put far less strain on the NHS. Far better to spend money on prevention than cure.
A good health care system should be a top priority.
The staff in the NHS have performed heroically. However, political decisions left the NHS with inadequate equipment and a shortage of beds and testing facilities. The NHS and social care have been underfunded for the past ten years. The education and training of doctors, nurses and care workers should also be funded better. Is it fair to expect a young doctor to join the front-line with £70,000 of educational debt and six per cent per annum interest? Applauding our heroes does ring rather hollow.
With the virus lockdown putting severe pressure on businesses , both national and local government need to go back to the drawing board. I think that it is vital that we only protect businesses and amenities that are in our long-term interests. Like most people, I need the NHS, a pharmacy, an optician and dentist. Overgate is Calderdale’s and my favourite charity, and must be preserved. The Courier and sister papers have always batted for Calderdale and would be on my list for preservation. The airlines and tourism have taken a big hit but they are not essential. As they generate so much carbon emissions and the rich use them most, ordinary tax payers should not have to fund their survival.
In his recent budget, the Chancellor was throwing money at infrastructure. Like previous Chancellors he made no mention of climate change, which is the greatest threat to our long term survival. One can never find out the carbon emissions of these projects, although concrete production is a very large carbon emitter.
At national level we could abandon HS2, the third runway at Heathrow and Hinckley Point nuclear power station.
At local level we could put all new projects on the back burner.
In Calderdale we have a flooding problem and this should be an exception, but Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency need to adopt a better strategy.
Although the coronavirus will devastate the economy, it gives the opportunity to rebuild for the benefit of all members of society.