We Can't Go On Like This - Eve McGlynn

The Conservatives claim that they have all the answers, many feel that they are the key to Britain’s bright new future. The Tory’s’ bright plans mean a total change in the way the country will run - a change in the NHS, pensions, and most importantly, the government. But is there a darker side to this new future?

The media is often too quick to judge politicians on every aspect of their public and private lives, especially when their actions affect taxpayers, with issues such as the economy or the health service. But would the public really prefer to make the choices themselves? David Cameron proposes that through his leadership, the NHS will be given back to the people. New information will be available, such as doctor performance, for patients to view at any time. Other information, such as cancer survival rates, and statistics will be ready for the general public. They can also find out about options to secure their future should they fall ill, about their changes for independence after recovering from a severe illness.

In these modern times, the world is constantly changing around us, and as life expectancy increases and medicine becomes more and more sophisticated, our population is becoming older. So the government’s pension plans are of upmost importance to the ageing population. The Conservatives will introduce a pension delay of one year – making the retirement age 66, an increase of one year for men, and six years for women. If employers refuse their workers pension, this will mean the average person will have to save around £55 a week. The employers have every right to refuse to hand out pensions, and the Tory’s will have to do their best to rectify, or face those of retirement age claiming benefits for a year of missed pensions. In trying to pull Britain’s economy out of the gutter; they may be pushing it deeper.

Within the British government itself, the very heart of the country, changes are being made. But the new changes will not benefit all Public Sector workers. Pay will be frozen for all public sector workers earning of £18,000 per annum if the Conservatives come to power, as David Cameron claims this will save the Government around £3.2 billion a year. Other pay cuts include abolishing tax credits for families that earn over £50,000 per annum. However, the Conservatives do have a heart, it seems. On top of abolishing Bankers Bonuses, they plan to introduce Global Warming policies that will encourage the public to ‘do their bit’. These include a fixed price for all ‘green’ electricity, and allow schools, hospitals and even homes to improve their eco-friendly efforts.

The Prison systems, too, will receive a shake up. The Tory’s new policy – ‘Prisons for a Purpose’, will change the way the judicial system works. A minimum and maximum sentence will be introduced, and a Victims fund will be set up, the criminals working to earn money for the fund. Every inmate that requires it shall receive drug and alcohol rehabilitation care, and the Tory’s have another miracle cure – they claim that they can end overcrowding by 2016, conjuring 5000 more prison cells than Labour ever planned to build.

The Tory’s bright new policies and shiny campaigns may blind the general public into believing that Conservative is the best vote for them, but have they considered the financial consequence to the taxpayer? David Cameron’s statement only rings too true “We can’t go on like this” – but could his own slogan be his own death wish?