Public Expenditure

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:34 pm on 6 March 1997.

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Photo of John Prescott John Prescott Shadow Secretary of State, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition 5:34, 6 March 1997

It is a fact of life that the Conservatives made that break—and every Conservative Member voted for it. Make no mistake, we have not made a commitment to restore the link. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] No, because, as hon. Members will hear from me, we have decided our priorities for public expenditure and taxation, and the electorate can make a judgment on them.

After 18 years, there are so many things that the Government have undermined. The same point can be made about the health service, prescription charges, and charges for spectacles and teeth. The Government have constantly put a health tax on the people of this country. We could not possibly hope to reverse all the damage that they have done in 18 years. All that we can do is to present to the electorate our priorities for public expenditure and tax, as we are doing now.