Independent Live debate: Labour under fire for deficit as panel lets rip at previous government

Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, said his party would focus on health next week

Andy Burnham, Labour's shadow Health Secretary (Jon Super)

The second Independent Live debate was dominated by health and, to a lesser extent, the deficit. At the end there was a nod towards Europe.

Andy Burnham, the shadow Health Secretary, said there will be a focus on health next week by the Labour party.

“What we are seeing is the Conservative campaign re-running what it did in 2010 – making big promises on spending and trying to neutralise health as an issue,” he told the audience at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Ian Birrell, an Independent columnist, said that the previous Labour government had greatly increased the size of the state. “A lot of it was wasted”, he said. “The public has a right to be concerned. When they leave office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury leaves a note saying that there’s no money left,” he said.

John Bickley, Ukip’s candidate in Heywood and Middleton, said there had been a splurge of money on the public sector under the previous government.

From left to right: Ukip's John Bickley, Independent columnist Ian Birrell, Independent political commentator Steve Richards, economist Vicky Pryce and Labour shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham (Jon Super)

Vicky Pryce, the economist, added that while the last Labour government borrowed too much, “by no means was it so high that it was dangerous”. She said the economic crisis had hit the UK worse because of its large financial sector which meant it was “disproportionately affected”. The economy was “actually in growth in 2010”, she said.

Mr Burnham said: “We ran a pretty strong economy during 1997 to 2007 and we had more European-style public services.”

Asked about their views on obesity, a questioner said punitive measures do not work. Mr Birrell said that the NHS was facing the challenge of an aging population, adding: “Let’s not use it as a political football.”

Ms Pryce said too much emphasis in the obesity debate had been on food and sugar, and not on exercise. During this period the government was selling off school fields. “Exercise makes a difference,” she said. A lot of what is in the manifestos, she said, is “worthless” and “won’t happen”.

Mr Burnham urged people to vote to halt the rise of nationalism which is a “worrying prospect”.

Perhaps the best one-liner of the night came from Mr Birrell when the final moments turned to Europe. He told Mr Bickley: “The more Ukip talks about Europe, the more support grows for Europe. So keep talking.”

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