Where are the differences on NHS?

Fuelled by a quadruple espresso and a six pack of Red Bull, Westmonster set out to carefully read through the past week's NHS speeches by both the Prime Minister and the Right Hon. Leader of the Opposition. It's been hard to follow the narratives between cat naps, but as best as Westmonster can tell, neither gave too many specifics — never mind saying anything interesting or important.

What is notable, however, is just how much common ground there was between the two:

• NHS constitution, good.
• More money for the NHS, good.
• Better medical technology, good.
• More choice for patients in choosing providers, good.
• Changing focus from acute to preventative care, good.

And that's just a sampling. It's almost as if El Gordo read Cameron's speech the other day, ran it through the LabourPolicyMator, and redelivered it today — lending credence to Davy's claim that it's the Tories who are setting the agenda at present. Westmonster has to agree with Cameron on that one.

But if Westmonster is right, and the policy — though lacking in specifics and subtly different — is substantially similar between the two, then why the reflexive "chasing headlines" cry from Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley?