Fighting a losing battle

"Ring fence the NHS"
"Liberate the NHS"
"Modernise the NHS"
"Save the NHS"

In the last year the Conservatives have changed their rhetoric several times. Each time they come up with a new phrase we realise that the old one was just hot air. The fact that the Conservative government have used so many phrases to describe what they are doing indicates that they are trying to hide the real reason behind their policy (hint: creating a healthcare market, and all that that entails).

When was the last time I remember a government pushing a policy that was unpopular and they refused to tell us the real reason for the policy? Oh yes, ID cards:

"Protect you from terrorism"
"Prevent benefit fraud"
"Protect your identity"

The last government used all of these excuses, and soon after they used the excuse it was debunked. The policy was thoroughly unpopular with the public and the new government (quite rightly) cancelled it. (I am sure that Labour would have cancelled it too, it was such an easy cut to make.)

Let's hope that Lansley's Bill goes the same way as ID cards.