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The NHS statistics stand as a damning indictment of nearly 10 years of Tory rule.

On every measurement the health service is struggling to cope.

More than four million patients are on the waiting list – the highest on record.

The target for cancer treatment has not been hit for four years, more patients are stranded on trolleys, and A&E waiting times are the worst ever recorded.

We are so used to reading such grim statistics there is a risk we become blind to the stories behind them.

Each number represents someone living in pain as they wait for treatment.

(Image: PA) (Image: Chris J Ratcliffe)

It represents a worried cancer sufferer or an elderly person who has had their operation cancelled. And it represents a family member anxious about losing a loved one.

The fact the NHS is close to imploding is entirely down to a Tory government that has starved it of funds. Only Labour is promising the cash it needs but that money must be spent wisely and coupled with reforms.

The Tories have betrayed health service staff and their patients. For this alone, they deserve to be booted out of office.

Housing hell

(Image: PA)

Our housing system is so broken that councils spent more than £1billion last year on temporary accommodation.

This included millions of pounds on housing families in B&Bs. They are the victims of the failure to build enough affordable housing and to regulate the rental market.

Greedy landlords have not only priced families out of their homes they are overcharging for shoddy emergency accommodation.

We should be ashamed this is happening in 21st century Britain.

Bucket twist

Britbox has made Hyacinth Bucket the face of its US advertising campaign.

It has been years since the show was broadcast in Britain but, in America, it keeps making appearances