Quote:
Originally Posted by gynn
I remember PFIs being trailed 20/25 years ago. They were seen as a means of getting public buildings built at a time when there was a squeeze on spending during the Thatcher/Major era. They appealed to the Conservatives because they were a collaboration with the private sector, and to Labour because they had a minimum effect on the public purse in the short term, thereby allowing a lot of big projects to be carried out.
I also recall the warnings being given loud and clear that the only benefits were short term, and that 20 years down the line we'd suffer. I think this put off most Conservative thinkers, but it fitted in well with Labours 'live now, pay later' philosophy.
Well here we are 20 years later, and the chickens have come home to roost. They can't say they weren't warned!
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Major did toy with it but as you say wasn't over keen to delve deep into it, PFI is now taking up around 14% off health trust finances, taking into account all the other hairbrained financial schemes embarked on my both Blair and Brown, finances were totally out of control, who can forget the note Liam Byrne left on his desk when Labour were kicked out, "there's no money left we've spent it all"