IT was interesting to read Mr Barnett’s very accurate assessment of modern Thatcherite Conservatism as something that insists “that everything in life is worthwhile only if it can render a monetary profit” (An alien monetarist creed, Letters, June 25).
This is reflected in ministers consistently promulgating the formula ‘private good, public bad’, and constantly denigrating public servants and the concept of public service.
I fear Mr Barnett’s predictions for the NHS may well turn out to be true as I never cease to be amazed at discovering organisations that were in public ownership and have been sold off, frequently without publicity, and often to foreign interests.
Every Conservative party establishment ought to have a framed photograph of Dad’s Army’s Private Walker at its entrance, for his philosophy represents the ‘spivocracy’ our democracy is becoming.
MICHAEL SMITH Maldon, Essex
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