After Afghanistan, It's War - Over Public Services
The Prime Minister is riding high, leading European reaction and standing tall 'shoulder to shoulder' with President Bush, over the 'War against Terrorism'. So far so good, but what happens when it's over, even if bin Laden and the Taliban are defeated and Tommy comes marching home? What then? The National Health Service has already (end November, in MORI's survey for the Times [Political Attitudes in Great Britain for November 2001]) regained poll position as the issue of most concern to most people in Britain, pushing the war into second place.
The Prime Minister is riding high, leading European reaction and standing tall 'shoulder to shoulder' with President Bush, over the 'War against Terrorism'. So far so good, but what happens when it's over, even if bin Laden and the Taliban are defeated and Tommy comes marching home? What then? The National Health Service has already (end November, in MORI's survey for the Times [Political Attitudes in Great Britain for November 2001]) regained poll position as the issue of most concern to most people in Britain, pushing the war into second place.
After Afghanistan, if not before, the service delivery (or lack thereof) of the Blair government will be uppermost in people's minds. The runes I read do not look happy for the occupants of Nos. 10 & 11. Look at the results of a recent MORI survey:
- Despite interjections of more and more money, there's been no change in the view of two people in three that the public sector is 'underfunded' over the past three years.
- But there have been sharp drops in perceptions of the public sector as 'friendly' 'keen to help', and 'efficient'. The public, that 800-pound gorilla, is stirring.
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