2025: Week 35 - NHS, Protests and a balanced BBC

This week saw the publication of NHS “league tables” which the Government say will help banish the “postcode lottery” in the speed and quality of treatment.  But the results are very telling, the top spots are all held by Specialist Hospitals, and therefore the criteria used to score all Trusts would be skewed when applied to an eye hospital for example, when compared to a general acute hospital.  The scoring was based on 30 different metrics, including financial position and direct patient experiences. 

Whilst I agree that the NHS is desperately in need of improvement after 14 years of mismanagement by the previous Conservative Government, measuring performance and publishing league tables isn’t helpful, as this could potentially create a tiered service, with patients refusing treatment at hospitals lower down the list, therefore increasing wait times at the better rated Trusts.  The Government should spend more time on finding ways to improve hospitals across the country, rather than publishing arbitrary scores which could prove damaging.

The arrest of 857 protesters under terror laws, following hundreds of arrests under the same powers last month, is deeply alarming. The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy - this sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilling impact on free speech and legitimate protest. This is exactly what we warned about when the Conservatives expanded terrorism powers in 2018. This Labour government has adopted the Conservative playbook instead of defending people’s right to peaceful protest. There’s no doubt that those using violence, antisemitic abuse, or hate speech must face serious consequences, but these crimes are already covered by existing law. We are once again calling for an urgent review of these powers in light of these arrests.

It cannot be right that groups like Palestine Action are placed in the same legal category as ISIS, the Russian Imperial Movement, or the Maniacs Murder Cult. This doesn’t mean Palestine Action should escape consequences. Serious criminal offences such as vandalism of military equipment and RAF aircraft, aggravated burglary and violent disorder all demand accountability under the law. But these are criminal acts not comparable to the horrors of terrorism. The Government must urgently review the terrorism legislation to ensure it is proportionate and nuanced.

Finally, the Lib Dems have launched a “Balance the BBC” petition to address “wall to wall” Reform coverage.   The party has raised serious concerns that the BBC is “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and that “wall-to-wall” Reform coverage is encouraging a “dangerous populism” parroted by Farage and borrowed from Donald Trump. The party has opened a petition demanding that the BBC be forced to commit to proportional coverage of political parties year-round. Currently broadcasters are only required to give proportionate weighting to parties based on their parliamentary heft during the regulated period, which operates during election periods.