First major gaffe of the recess

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

We’re now in to the parliamentary recess, and notionally we should be on political downtime, but across the country politicians are heading back to their constituencies to campaign, either in local elections, for the Scottish or Welsh parliaments, in the AV referendum or on important issues in their local area. It’s also a time when it’s crucial to keep an eye on what MPs are actually saying on the campaign trail, as gaffes (or honest statements as they might otherwise be called) start to slip out.

We’ve already had Greg Barker let the government’s true feelings slip when he was far from the Westminster bubble in the USA. Oliver Letwin decided insulting the people of Sheffield would be a good use of his time. And Michael Gove is opposing a mosque, but his reasons for doing so are secretive.

But now, thanks to Paul Waugh, we have evidence of the first, genuine recess gaffe, as Iain Duncan Smith has confirmed the damage that the Tory government are doing to the NHS. IDS is trying to save services at his local hospital – a laudible aim and one he shares with the local Labour Party – yet in defending his hospital he’s let slip that waiting lists are growing already. Duncan Smith said:

“Waiting times have already increased since last year and maternity services at Queens and Whipps are already struggling to cope. Patients in my constituency will really suffer if this closure goes ahead and we must prevent it.”

And with this refreshing honesty from IDS, the pressure on beleaguered health secretary Andrew Lansley has increased further…