According to Charles Clarke Labour should consider extending charging to more areas of the NHS.

Today marks the lowest NHS waiting lists since records began - but does anyone believe it or care?

Closing a hospital is like drowning a kitten - it's just not something that the public are ever going to thank you for.  But is it sufficient reason alone to stand for Parliament?  Is it a helpful way of rallying support for a worthy cause, or does it distort the `market' in favour of those who are most eloquent and well-organised enough to run a campaign?  And is this sort of single issue politics good for the political health of the nation?

A funny thing happened to me the other day at a constituency meeting. A retired labour MP blanked me for suggesting that instead of privatising parts of the NHS we should re-nationalise some areas privatised by the Tories.

I voted for Tony Blair in 1997.