I posted this Twitter thread last night:
A slightly blown-up version of the Telegraph story to which I refer looks like this:
The nub of it is simple: in the face of massive underfunding and an ongoing Covid pandemic Sunak is seeking to provide no further additional funding for the NHS despite the very obvious need for it.
Let me try the four questions on any economic policy that I suggested appropriate this morning, and apply them to Sunak and the financial elite that he represents:
1. Do I know what might improve the wellbeing of others?
2. Might what is proposed improve that wellbeing?
3. Would the proposed activity cause others to have a reasonable concern as to my wellbeing?
4. Can the proposed activity, in the light of these answers, be justified?
The answers are:
- Yes, we know more medical care will improve the wellbeing of others, and that it is urgently required;
- What is proposed will not improve that wellbeing;
- What is proposed will not threaten the wellbeing of the financial elite since they can afford all the financial care that they desire;
- In the light of this the proposed action cannot be justified.
I'd suggest that the methodology works.
And that Sunak is completely wrong in his approach.
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I just found Sunak’s application form for Chancellor online at Gov.UK. It must have been put on there by mistake or someone in the Civil Service thought that they ought share it :
1. Do I know what might improve the wellbeing of others?
Sunak: ‘Yes – by underfunding the NHS, I will make it perform worse, get it blamed for increases in deaths and manufacture consent to bring in more of the private sector instead who will promise a better service. This will improve the well-being of bankers, finance, lawyers and top managers plus our funders and of course my beloved party’.
Marks awarded: 8/10
2. Might what is proposed improve that wellbeing?
Sunak: ‘Because it will simply generate loadsa money for bankers, managers, financiers who also fund my beloved party and we will rule for a thousand years’.
Marks awarded: 9/10
3. Would the proposed activity cause others to have a reasonable concern as to my wellbeing?
Sunak: ‘ I’m sorry I don’t understand – what’s this business about other people being concerned about each others wellbeing? I look after myself just like Ayn Rand said I should you know.’
Marks awarded: 10/10 A* with a ”Huzzah!’ scribbled underneath.
4. Can the proposed activity, in the light of these answers, be justified?
Sunak ‘Yes, it can be justified because it will help our funders to keep funding our party. It’s bloody expensive spreading lies about what we do and defaming the other parties you know’.
Marks awarded: 9/10
The application form was marked by someone called ‘Boris’.
PSR, you are making this up. It certainly accurately reflects his position. He is neoliberal at a time when such policies are completely inappropriate. Not that they are ever really appropriate.
as someone else who serviced our lords & masters once commented
” well he would say that “
Rishi Sunak is obviously concerned about the fitness and wellbeing of his own family.
Friday, 27th August 2021.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been granted permission to build a swimming pool, gym and tennis court beside his historic North Yorkshire home, despite claims the development will harm the setting of the grade II listed property.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-granted-permission-to-build-swimming-pool-gym-and-tennis-court-at-his-historic-north-yorkshire-home-3361680