The IEA’s Head of Public Policy Matthew Lesh has been quoted in The Daily Mail responding to Labour’s plan to reinstate the 45p rate of tax to fund increased NHS spending.

Questioning the fiscal calculations of the plan, Matthew was quoted:

‘It is disingenuous to suggest that the additional rate of income tax can fund a wide array of new public spending pledges. The additional rate was introduced in 2009 and only raises around £2billion a year. To put this into perspective, the additional rate amounts to just one per cent of the NHS’ annual budget.

Successive Governments have increased taxpayer funding for the NHS while outcomes have declined. 

‘The UK consistently performs poorly in international rankings on issues such as avoidable deaths. The system requires fundamental reform, not just more cash.’

The full article can be read here.