Make this Conference about the NHS, LabourList readers tell Miliband

Ed Miliband should make the NHS the focus of his Labour Conference speech, say LabourList readers. 52% said that setting out Labour’s offer on the health service should be the central offer of Miliband’s address to delegates on Tuesday.

It has been rumoured that Labour will attempt to make the NHS the defining issue of the 2015 election, and a poll earlier this week suggested it was the only “big” issue that we hold a lead on, beating the Tories by 18%. In the biggest issue, the economy, we trail the Tories by 24% points – and only 7% think that deficit reduction should be a focus of the speech.

As yet, it is unclear what Labour will propose on the NHS this week. Back in May, Miliband announced the “GP guarantee”, as well as revealing plans to integrate health and social care.

One of the biggest questions that hangs over the topic now is funding – experts predict that the service will be running a loss of almost £1billion by the end of the year. The prospect of raising National Insurance to fund further NHS spending has been raised, although Ed Balls has poured cold water on that proposal.

Polling carried out on the subject says that people would be prepared to pay higher taxes as long as the money raised is spent on the NHS. However, when the question is posed with specific taxes (such as income tax), support falls significantly.

This leaves the option of introducing taxes on things such as cigarettes and alcohol, although with the Tories making such a song-and-dance about cutting the price of a pint, it may be an area Labour want to steer clear of.

Housing was another popular option, with 21% hoping that it will make up a major part of the Miliband speech, despite the fact it was only considered a major issue by 5% of the electorate. Devolution, unsurprisingly, was another of the more popular options, with 11% thinking it should be the focus of Miliband’s speech. While it may not be the main crux of proceedings, it will certainly appear – and with Labour Conference coming first it is a good opportunity for Miliband to set the agenda on a subject that looks set to dominate the Westminster agenda.

Wen also asked further questions on devolution, which will be up on LabourList shortly.

LabourList are running a full schedule of fringe events at Conference this year. Find out more here.

499 people voted in this week’s survey.Thankyou to everyone who took part.