Simon Burns

“The strange picture being painted for us is one of the biggest bureacratic machines in Whitehall being taken by surprise by its own success in making efficiency savings, and choosing to hand the extra cash back to the Treasury.”

“He’s also right that overall clinical staff levels have risen…but only if you choose your time frame carefully.”

“So two decisions have gone against the government, but they still haven’t come up with the all-important document. Does that mean, as Andy Burnham claimed, that they are technically flouting the law?”