I am yet to understand why our politicians cannot sort out the system. I don’t think it’s rocket science to work out that as a nation we would like to have people taken care of if they need help. Not just if they want it. And that’s the point. In the case we discussed this afternoon the family in question wanted to move house rather than needed to. The system allowed it and as a result you, the taxpayer, are paying £8000 a month for accommodation for these people who don’t work and have seven children. I just don’t understand and hope we see some radical changes. All I would like to see is a return to “need” as the watchword for public services and not “want”.
I spoke to Andy Burnham the shadow health secretary. Unsurprisingly he is less than happy about what Andrew Lansley his replacement at the Department for Health is up to. Although Andy wasn’t enamoured by the idea that we should pay tax on fast or unhealthy foods, he does think the abolition of the Food Standards Agency is daft. Personally I think it’s time more efforts were put into cooking and health education and less into nannying, legislating and interfering. He also sees himself as the underdog in the Labour Leadership campaign and his thoughts on what to cut or rather not to cut were quite a revelation.
I was also joined by Mark Griffin from www.cyberpoint.co.uk who gave you some thoughts on how to inspire your business or set up on the net.
I was also horrified that the ugly big white horse sculpture isn’t going to cost £4 million but closer to £12 million. Just don’t bother in my view. However I was also staggered how much it costs to keep a dog over its lifetime. Wow… a whippet will cost you £66,000. Blimey!
Anyway – I’m back on Saturday from 7am for Saturday Breakfast