Cameron announces 6 manifesto themes – but there’s no mention of the NHS

Today David Cameron will launch the first of the Tories six themes for their manifesto. Rather predictably, he’ll focus on tackling the deficit.

That’s because the Conservatives want to focus on the deficit with the hope that they can keep replaying the same tired and untrue card that Labour can’t be trusted with the economy.

The other five of the Tories’ manifesto themes will be jobs, taxes, home-ownership, education and retirement.

One of the most obvious topics missing from their agenda? The NHS.

The Tories have cut spending on the NHS and so, along with the Lib Dems, they have presided over one of the worst crises facing the health service. Just last week we saw the British Red Cross called in to help relieve pressure on struggling A&E departments.

Yet, they seem to think the future of NHS isn’t a big enough issue to make central to their manifesto. Perhaps that’s because they realise the public trust Labour more than them on this very topic.

Chris Leslie, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury has strongly criticised this move, and pointed out that the Conservatives are failing on the economy, as well as the NHS:

“After a week when we’ve seen a Tory NHS crisis worsening day after day it’s a staggering omission by David Cameron to fail to make the NHS one of his six themes.

“On the deficit David Cameron has broken his promise to balance the books because he has failed to deliver rising living standards for all. Working people are worse off under the Tories and that’s why the tax revenues needed to get the deficit down have fallen short.

“The Tories have abandoned the centre-ground with a risky plan for even deeper spending cuts which would take public spending back to a share of national income last seen in the 1930s.

“Labour will cut the deficit every year and get the current budget into surplus and national debt falling as soon as possible in the next Parliament.

“Our tough but balanced plan is different from the Tories’ extreme and ideological approach. Alongside sensible spending cuts we will reverse David Cameron’s tax cut for millionaires and tackle the cost-of-living crisis. That’s the only way to balance the books in a fair way while protecting our NHS”