i think the only reason that we didn't run out is because of the work that steve oldfield and his teamthey did during 2019 in preparation for a no deal brexit. questions were asked about the health system and whether it was in a strong enough condition just before covid hit. do you agree, mr osborne, that by the time covm—19| hit, the consequences of austerity |were a depleted health and socialj care capacity and rising inequality in the united kingdom? - most certainly not. i would say if we had not done that, britain would have been more exposed not just to future things like the coronavirus pandemic, but indeed to the fiscal crises which very rapidly followed in countries across europe. do you agree that during your time l in office, the state of the social. care system became worse? i'm not sure i would accept that. i would certainly accept that there are rising pressures that including during my period in office on the social care system. they are driven by the fact britain has a rapidly ageing population. former prime minister david cameron also defends the government's policies

i think the only reason that we didn't run out is because of the work that steve oldfield and his teamat, britain would have been more exposed not just to future things like the coronavirus pandemic, but indeed to the fiscal crises which very rapidly followed in countries across europe. do you agree that during your time i in office, the state of the social. care system became worse? i'm not sure i would accept that. i would certainly accept that there are rising pressures that including during my period in office on the social care system. they are driven by the fact britain has a rapidly ageing population. so, we made the important decision to say that the health service was different, its budget would be protected and so there were real terms increases every year. and so, for instance, there were 10,000 more doctors working in the nhs at the end of the time i was prime minister than there were at the beginning. others criticised both the state of the health service and social care at that point when covid struck. and by comparative data compared to similar countries per 100,000 popu

i think the only reason we didn't run out is because of the work that steve oldfield and his team dides of austerity were a depleted health and social care capacity and rising inequality in the united kingdom? most certainly not. _ in the united kingdom? most certainly not. i— in the united kingdom? most certainly not. i would - in the united kingdom? most certainly not. i would say - in the united kingdom? most certainly not. i would say if. in the united kingdom? most| certainly not. i would say if we in the united kingdom? most certainly not. i would say if we had not done _ certainly not. i would say if we had not done that great britain would have been more exposed, notjust for future _ have been more exposed, notjust for future things like the coronavirus pandemic. — future things like the coronavirus pandemic, but to the fiscal crises which _ pandemic, but to the fiscal crises which rapidly followed in countries across— which rapidly followed in countries across europe. do which rapidly followed in countries across europe.— across europe. do you agree that durin: across europe.