A senior Sefton Labour councillor slammed austerity policies for increasing health inequalities, claiming Tory policies “are killing our people.”
Cllr John Fairclough made the comments during a debate over the disparity in health for people in different parts of the borough, after a motion was submitted by Liberal democrat leader Cllr John Pugh at a meeting of Sefton Council’s full council last night.
Earlier in the meeting, a written question from Labour councillor Greg Myers was discussed – which asked whether the scale of health inequalities in Sefton could be considered “exceptional."
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A written response by cabinet member for health, Cllr Ian Moncur concluded there was an “exceptionally large gap in life expectancy” in the borough and “differences in rates of long-term life limiting conditions.”
Cllr Moncur said that while the borough was not “exceptional” in terms of premature life-limiting illnesses, larger alcohol-related inequalities are “of concern.”
Responding to Cllr Myers request for elaboration on the report, Cllr Moncur pointed to a caption on one of the graphs. That caption reads: ‘more wealth = more health = more life’.
Mr Moncur said that caption “encapsulates” the public health situation in the borough.
Later, in a motion expressing “concern” at health inequalities by Cllr Pugh the debate became testy.
Speaking on his motion, Cllr Pugh said: “When you look at the statistics, there is no room for complacency.”
Cllr Moncur referred to a national report produced by Michael Marmot, which stated that over a million people died early in England between 2011 and 2021. He said the problems can only be addressed at a national level.
Suggesting an amendment to the motion, Cllr Moncur placed blame for increasing inequalities at the door of both Liberal democrats and Conservatives after austerity was introduced in 2010.
This was disputed by both Liberal democrats and conservatives in the chamber. Cllr Pugh said it was a “cheap political point” to cries of “cheek” from the Labour benches.
Conservative leader, Cllr Prendergast said that health inequalities “can’t be explained by austerity.”
These claims were blasted by councillors on the Labour benches. Cllr Cummins said that until 2010, child deprivation was falling. Cllr Halsall said that health inequality was “absolutely a political point” and Cllrs Spencer and Doyle gave examples of constituents suffering due to wider inequalities in the borough.
Cllr Fairclough said “it can’t be a coincidence” that poorer health in the south of the borough goes along with increased pollution risks from the docks and traffic pollution.
He also laid into trickle down economics, following the economic ructions created by the prime minister’s ‘mini budget’ last week.
Cllr Fairclough said: “Trickle down economics is go into a restaurant, buy a rich man’s dinner and hope he lets you lick the plate at the end of it.”
He said the government is “stealing money” and then “putting a debt claim in your pocket”. He adds, “not only are they robbing off you, they’re then asking you to pay it back.”
Cllr Fairclough likened recent conservative prime ministers to the “four horseman of the apocalypse, raining down misery”
He said: “I am rambling on, but it’s doing my head” adding that he believed Tory policies “are killing our people.”
Ultimately, Labour’s amendment to Cllr Pugh’s motion was passed, with the council noting both concern and blame for the borough’s health inequalities.
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