OFFICIAL Debate #1 thread

[The Wikir Man]

Hmm, it sounded like miles, but I could be wrong. 25 minutes wouldn't be very dramatic though would it?

I wasn't really listening - he may have said miles, I don't know.

25 minutes when you're having a heart attack is quite a lot, though.

Having done the journey in an ambulance, I'd rather have been getting treatment, it must be said.

[dang65]

I'm interested to hear more about Clegg's savings in Westminster on 'paperclips and pot plants'. Is this another scandal we didn't know about?

[The Wikir Man]

Ha ha, all rush to shake hands with the plebs.

Not quite - Cameron tried to stop Clegg getting in first.

[London75]

Clegg, you're flippin joking he was pathetic. How could he win the poll, he said nothing except don't listen to those two blah blah

Cameron smarm

Brown pyscho

[smalldog]

£2000 each

So me and my partner are paying £2k each into the NHS each year according to Nick Clegg...So why the hell cant I opt out of something I havent used in years and put that £4k between us into a private medical policy...so much for choice

[scooterscot]

Clegg get's my vote

[d000hg]

So me and my partner are paying £2k each into the NHS each year according to Nick Clegg...So why the hell cant I opt out of something I havent used in years and put that £4k between us into a private medical policy...so much for choice

Sigh. It's called the welfare state. If the rich all pulled out because they use private healthcare and schools, nobody would be left to pay for state services.

[d000hg]

Clegg, you're flippin joking he was pathetic. How could he win the poll, he said nothing except don't listen to those two

You don't think that's a strong policy?

[minestrone]

Clegg looked like a man that would tell you his grandmother was game for it if you had 20 quid to give him.

[smalldog]

Sigh. It's called the welfare state. If the rich all pulled out because they use private healthcare and schools, nobody would be left to pay for state services.

Sigh back, derrr I do understand that, but if a proportionate amount of people pulled out then the load would reduce, therefore reducing cost...Not everyone can afford to pay for their own private care so thats an extreme comparison, its not just the rich paying for the NHS. From the moment you start paying PAYE you start contributing to the welfare state. If everyone pulled out then maybe but that would never happen, some people would not want to go private and not down to decisions based on cost or their wealth.

We should have an option to pull out of the NHS and go private, but pay a mandatory minimum contribution to the welfare state to ensure its continued funding for all those who cannot afford to go private.

What people should not be expected to do is pay for private care such as BUPA and then be expected to effectively pay again for a service they will not use. And yes BUPA etc doesnt cover everything at the moment but I would pay for my own GP visits (that amounts to 2 in the last 10 years) and A&E including ambulance costs as required.