Originally Posted by AdultKing

The UK like Australia is a welfare state. The state provides a safety net for those not fortunate enough to be able to afford housing, medical care, education and so forth.

Australia lost free tertiary education some time ago, however it's free if you can't afford it. Basically the Government gives you a loan administered through the taxation system and you pay it back once you earn over a certain income threshold. I understand the Lib Dems are proposing a similar system, I don't see a really big problem with that. It works well here.

As you point out the UK does have the NHS, housing is essentially free to those who want to live in council flats, education will essentially be free too for those who cannot afford it.

Do I have my facts wrong here ?