An evidence-based protest song

“The Cuts Don’t Work” is a beautiful reworking by Jack Morgan of The Verve’s “The Drugs Don’t Work”. The song attacks the cuts and the dismantling of the health service in particular. The accompanying video contains quotes and newspaper cuttings to support almost every line of the song and elegantly integrates amusing clips such as Cameron saying in parliament “listen to the doctor” before presenting evidence for doctors’ opposition to the health bill. The jabs at Jeremy Hunt for his involvement in the BSkyB scandal are particularly relevant now that Hunt has been dubbed Minister for Magic after the champion of homeopathy (a multi-million pound drain on the NHS) was appointed Minister for Health in this week’s cabinet reshuffle. Hunt is also known for having asked “is it really necessary” to include a tribute to the NHS in the Olympic opening ceremony. He has also been described as an extremist for his views on abortion and has even directly called for the dismantling of the health service. He really is the last man alive that should be allowed to be placed in charge of the nation’s health.

It’s quite astounding, I’m not sure anyone predicted we could see a worse man be placed in charge of the nation’s health than Andrew Lansley, the man who in opposition accepted tens of thousands in payments from a private health “tycoon” before arranging the wholesale dismantling of the NHS. The same man who before anyone could say “Orwell”, placed a permanently looping three minute clip of his own face in the beds of patients in treatment in hospital, unless they cough up £5 a day of course for the option to change the channel. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Welcome to 1984

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