Real risk of widespread health charging under Tories, says Labour

Ed Balls cites OECD figures on other countries where public spending is as low as Tory target

Shrinking the public sector to the size envisioned by the Conservatives could lead to widespread charging in the health service, Labour claims.

Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, based his claim on figures covering 34 developed economies that show extensive health service charging in any country that shrinks its state spending to as small as 35% of GDP, the target proposed by the Tories for 2019-20. On average the level of charges is three times higher in those countries than in the UK at present.

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