So while we are all having to work even longer hours in a vainglorious attempt to get the economy moving again, when we collectively keel over, our NHS, which is “the envy of the World” won’t have anyone to treat us…

The key pledge of Labour's NHS reform has been to reduce waiting lists and now the majority of patients are treated within the target of 18 weeks from seeing their GP. However this will be reversed as junior doctors will be limited to working a 48-hour week, from their current 56 hours, it is claimed.

The extension of the European Working Time Directive will effectively result in the loss of thousands of doctor shifts, John Black, President of the Royal College of Surgeons said. And the Government fears there will be a lack of locum doctors available to step in and help fill the gaps, following changes in doctors' recruitment. It means patients will have to wait months for routine operations as surgeons prioritise emergencies rather than scheduled cases.

Let the carpet bombing recommence. Look at the period since 1945 as a lull, while we plugged in some new target co-ordinates (as well as now dusting down some of the old ones)