Does nobody else find the framing of this article a little weird? I thought the argument for boosting the economy, was because it correlated well with people's well being. (Not that I personally but that, but I understand the line of thought). Now instead we're suggesting that human outcomes are important because it boosts an arbitrary measure? I feel like the cart is now dragging the horse along the ground.
Active travel should be a key part of this. People need to switch from driving to walking and cycling.
Fewer cars on the road will also improve air quality in cities.
I get what you mean but I find anti car rhetoric way too overdone.
Given the topic is about health issues there's going to be a lot of people who have limited mobility so cycling isn't viable and walking may only be short distances. Therefore a car provides them freedom they need.
I agree cars are indispensable in certain cases but that shouldn't detract from the need to reduce journeys by car. In London 1 in 3 schools are close to roads with illegal levels of N02 pollution. Improving air quality is critical to preventing damage to young lungs as well as improving road safety.
Oh, for sure in London or any other dense area where public transport is abundant, and taxis run 24/7 there is no need for cars.
That's where a good bus network would help and infrastructure built less around cars would make shorter distances more likely for other means like cycling/walking.
Well duh. We definitely need a much stronger focus on public health and primary care rather than leaving problems on waiting lists until they are harder (and more expensive) to solve.
Nah, if you leave people on waiting lists they give up, turn to private options or just die, so it's no longer your problem. That's the cost saving approach the NHS uses for mental health services.
Great aim but I don't see what this Labour government is going to do to make the situation better given the last government couldn't nor could the last Labour government for that matter.
We've gone from it being worse in work than out on benefits, to Universal Credit, to being stigmatised for being long term ill such that why would you bother.
Harder choices than what we're prepared for are needed. Good luck to them 👍.
