Thursday, December 12, 2024

Tony Blair has written an article for the Daily Mail with an arresting headline: "Taxes are high. The NHS is coming apart at the seams. We need a once-in-generation disruption. Here's what could change everything."

Blair's answer is technology, and specifically a digital identity database that would make government more efficient, transform the NHS, reduce immigration and cut benefit fraud.

He is not wrong, although the idea that an ID system would make a transformative difference may be optimistic. 

As for tech more generally, it needs good people to manage it. The NHS used it well for the coronavirus vaccination programme, but could do so much more with it.   

Written by John Rentoul

Who is the only Conservative MP to have won more than 50 per cent of the vote in their constituency in this year's election?

Answer at the bottom of today's email 

Don't forget to complete your registration

We've noticed that you still have not completed your registration to The Independent. Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism. It allows us to better understand our readers and tailor your experience.

By registering, you'll also gain access to a range of exclusive benefits, including:

Unlock these benefits by completing your registration today. 

Daily briefing

EU countries double down on halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back

'We need to wait a few more days to see where Syria is heading now,' said Nancy Faeser, German interior minister 

Kemi Badenoch's war on sandwiches makes her look out of touch

Sean O'Grady asks if the Tory leader's aversion to 'moist' bread means she's toast 

Labour's housing targets aren't just short-sighted – they're suicidal

Naturalist and photographer Chris Packham disagrees with the government's policy

What else you need to know today

The Independent View

Politics explained

How did UK prisons get so crowded and can the cell blockage be solved?

The British public demand that all sorts of offenders be locked up for the sake of retribution; but the British are also a devoutly cakeist people, and not prepared to pay the taxes required to build enough prisons... 

Read more

MOST COMMENTED

A look back at the week in Westminster

Kemi Badenoch struggling to make her mark

Kemi Badenoch took leave of her senses by choosing to ask six questions about immigration at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday. Immigration was the Conservatives' biggest failure in office, so she allowed Keir Starmer to point out that her government had quadrupled net immigration by running what he called an "open borders" policy, while the new government had already increased the number of failed asylum seekers being returned to their home countries.

I assume her calculation was that she has to win back voters from Nigel Farage, but she won't get them back by allowing herself to be beaten up on the subject by a Labour prime minister. 

She has done one necessary thing, which is to apologise on behalf of the government of which she was a member, and she referred to that apology again today: "We have acknowledged where things went wrong, but he will never take responsibility." But she needs a different strategy if she is to have a chance of turning this subject to her advantage. She needs a much bigger, more dramatic and sustained show of contrition, which will involve demonising Boris Johnson, the author of the liberal "points-based" immigration system.  

Then she needs a policy. It needs to sound credible, so she cannot simply revive the Rwanda scheme, which everyone knew was at best a marginal, symbolic deterrent. Nor can she just promise a cap on immigration numbers, which is all she offered today. Everyone knows that was tried and didn't work before. 

If her choice of questions was a strategic disaster, it was to some extent a tactical success, in that she succeeded in needling Starmer into a peevish defence of his record as Director of Public Prosecutions, boasting at one point that Theresa May, as home secretary, "commended the work that I did at the end of those five years". 

(Taken from my Commons Confidential newsletter, for subscribers only – we are currently offering a bargain rate of £1 for six months)

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"I'm not a sandwich person, I don't think sandwiches are a real food, it's what you have for breakfast. I will not touch bread if it's moist"

Kemi Badenoch

Quiz answer: Bob Blackman, Harrow East, 53 per cent; the next highest is Rishi Sunak, Richmond and Northallerton, 48 per cent

The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Join the conversation or follow us

Download the free Independent app

Please do not reply directly to this email

You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.

To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.

This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345

Read our privacy policy and cookie policy