Labour and the private sector

 The i newspaper earlier this week warned that Labour's plan to enlist private sector support for the NHS may not be the shot in the arm it seems. 

James Ball wrote:

Labour's plan to make more use of the private sector to tackle ballooning NHS waiting lists stands out as one of the most eye-catching policies from an often risk-averse party.

The idea may alarm those who fear it will be a thin end of a wedge leading to NHS privatisation. But the shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting's strategy could also be seen as a smart move for a party that wants to show it is up for doing whatever it takes to tackle one of the country's biggest problems.

However, independent experts have expressed major doubts about whether Mr Streeting's solution can actually cut waiting lists. They are warning that the use of  private hospitals to take on routine operations could cost the NHS too much. 

The experts argue that Mr Streeting's scheme would have to rely on paying private providers more than the NHS receives for exactly the same work.

It has already been noted by Private Eye that the Priory Health Group has sponsored a couple of Labour events, and it s probably significant that in a recent interview the CEO stated that 

Out of all the mental health beds in the country, both NHS and independent sector, Priory accounts for 10% of inpatient beds already, so we are a big and trusted provider. [...] I do see Priory as a key partner to the NHS and as someone who has worked in the NHS, I am passionate about meeting the needs of people in the UK and delivering high quality services and support.

Open Democracy lists a number of policy changes and shadow cabinet appointments linked to donations from commercial organisations. The article is clearly partial, but it does cite facts which can be checked. 

It all points to a putative future Starmer government being, like Blair-Brown, little more than a continuation of the previous Tory administration.