Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their election manifesto, promising to introduce free personal care for the elderly and disabled. The £9.4 billion package for the NHS and social care in England is fully costed and will be funded by increased taxes on banks and closing loopholes for the wealthy. Other promises include better access to NHS dental care, mental health services, and a right to see a GP within seven days. The manifesto also includes plans to regulate the water industry and tackle sewage pollution. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the party, emphasized the need to prioritize care and support for carers, highlighting the crisis in the NHS and the economy. The manifesto aims to empower people and hold those in power accountable. Sir Ed, a former postal minister and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was knighted for his political and public service in 2016. Earlier this year, he apologized for a letter deemed offensive by a Post Office scandal campaigner.” Bates informed the Horizon IT inquiry that Sir Ed’s 2010 letter was perceived as a standard template response.
Davey expressed regret for not recognizing the deception in the Post Office scandal. Sir Ed admitted to Sky News that he failed to see through the lies during his time as postal minister, emphasizing that the lies were on an “industrial scale.” He believed that Post Office executives had deceived not only him but also previous and subsequent ministers, as well as the subpostmasters, courts, judges, and lawyers. Sir Ed advocated for holding those responsible accountable, even if it meant legal action and imprisonment.
The Conservatives claimed a decrease in waiting lists since November 2023 and proposed initiatives to enhance community care by constructing new GP surgeries, modernizing existing ones, and establishing new community diagnostic centers. Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer outlined plans to address the NHS waiting list backlog by deploying specialized teams to hospitals for evening and weekend clinics.
The Conservatives, Labour, and the Green Party are set to unveil their manifestos this week, along with the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru.
PA Media contributed to this report.
Source link