The new government gives three reasons for optimism – and one to keep campaigning

Politics has been a whirlwind this summer, with scandals, elections, resignations, reshuffles, and a new Prime Minister arriving with an avalanche of announcements. The regularity and pace of change can be destabilising – we’ve lost count of the welcome letters we’ve written to new ministers (and meetings we’ve had cancelled). Meanwhile, more recent reports show declining health and widening inequalities in both children and adults. But through the chaos and gloom, Health Equals has three reasons for hope – and motivation to keep campaigning. 

1. Making every postcode healthier

From Number 10 North to ‘Manchesterism,’ Prime Minister Andy Burnham has nailed his colours to the mast of tackling place-based inequalities. This is just what Health Equals campaigns for. Over the past few years our growing coalition has laid bare the stark truth that lives are cut short depending on your where you’re born, work and live, due to things like lack of access to safe homes, good jobs and thriving neighbourhoods.  

So, we are optimistic that Burnham can extend his approach that made Greater Manchester the first ‘Marmot City Region’ to the rest of the country by putting health at the heart of government, including how resources are allocated and gearing policies towards achieving better health in every postcode. 

2. Rewiring how government works

This is the second area where we are hopeful. As well as sharing Health Equals’ aims, Burnham also recognises that the means to achieving them involves ‘rewiring’ the system. As he put it on the steps of Downing Street, ‘we will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people’s success, rather than paying for failure.’ He has even spoken about borrowing from Germany’s constitution  – requiring the government to pursue comparable economic development, services and welfare in all regions. Burnham’s No 10 North will similarly strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain.  

At Health Equals, we are also campaigning to change the law to ‘rewire’ the way government works in favour of prevention and tackling inequalities in health. Our amendments to the Health Bill, currently going through Parliament, would give prevention the same priority as treatment, making reducing inequalities a legal requirement, and ensure that national and local government are all working towards the same goals. We hope the new government will listen.  

3. Treating strategy and delivery as two sides of the same coin 

Rewiring the state is necessary, but not enough. Strategy and delivery must go hand-in-hand. The English health inequalities strategy in the 2000s was seen as a trailblazer, but gains were reversed when it was dropped over 25 years ago. Now, with the same minister – Yvette Cooper – back in charge, there is real opportunity to address these issues. 

But there is no time for complacency, and we don’t want to see a repeat of the Health Mission which went missing in action. The new administration led by Burnham should relaunch this work and show they’re serious about good health in every postcode.  

That’s why it’s as important as ever that we, through the unified voice of our coalition and our people-powered, campaign to change the law. When parliament returns in September, we will work with our 100 cross-party parliamentary champions to make sure this new government fulfils our hopes.