DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Only bold reform by the Labour Government can revive the NHS
Tackling Britain's pervasive sick-note culture is a feat that has eluded many a government minister.
Only last year former chancellor Jeremy Hunt was accused of 'demonising' disabled people when he attempted it.
Despite these challenges, it is most welcome to hear Health Secretary Wes Streeting say that it is one of his key priorities to reduce the 2.8million on long-term sickness benefits.
Encouragingly, he believes a fresh approach to the NHS can help achieve his goals.
It can no longer rely on a 'begging bowl', he says, and can instead contribute billions in economic growth to the bottom line of Britain plc.
Despite these challenges, it is most welcome to hear Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) say that it is one of his key priorities to reduce the 2.8million on long-term sickness benefits
As a Labour Secretary of State Mr Streeting may have more freedom to point out the shortcomings of our vastly expensive health and benefits systems.
Conservatives were always forced on to the back foot when they even hinted at such reforms, which led to billions upon billions more being poured into the sump of an ever-thirsty machine, only to be burned off.
The NHS is not set in aspic. It cannot be run on a model drawn up in 1948.
The essential ingredient of Mr Streeting's announcement is his emphasis on the NHS healing the sick so they are able and willing to go back to work.
A 'carrot and stick' approach may make it easier to carry along a resistant public sector – that Michael Gove referred to as 'the Blob'.
Perhaps the taxpayer will finally see reform introduced through pragmatism, not dogmatism. And not before time.
Acid test for new PM
Sir Keir Starmer will today face his sternest test yet as he arrives in Washington for a critical Nato summit.
It would have been daunting enough as an untested leader stepping onto the world stage for the first time.
But Vladimir Putin's bloody attack on a Kyiv children's hospital on Monday places an additional layer of pressure upon the new PM and other Western leaders, just as it was intended to do.
Simultaneously, Chinese military are on exercise in Belarus – Russia's lapdog – and Indian PM Narendra Modi has repeatedly hugged Putin on a visit to Moscow. Where does this leave Nato and Ukraine and Britain's relationship with both?
Foreign Secretary David Lammy insists support for Ukraine is 'ironclad', which we warmly welcome, and yet Labour still has not committed to a timetable for increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Sir Keir Starmer will today face his sternest test yet as he arrives in Washington for a critical Nato summit
The great worry is that the occupants of the White House and the Elysee Palace are both emasculated, for different reasons. Germany has this week failed to significantly scale up its military spending.
A Donald Trump victory in the US presidential election in November would place even greater pressure on Nato.
All the more reason for Sir Keir and other leaders to agree a definitive package this week and to set it firmly in place, quickly.
All this could prove an opportunity for Sir Keir to shine, and to guide reluctant members of Nato towards the light. It also has the potential to be a stumbling block and see him sidelined. We hope it is the former. We hope he has the mettle.
The Government is right to look at reform of the water industry.
Companies must expect the closest scrutiny if they unwisely decide to pay tens of millions in dividends and bonuses while polluting Britain's waterways.
Labour describes it as a 'reset', but perhaps we need a full flush.
California parents terrified after group of 20 migrants try to board elementary school bus
