The right wants to kill off the NHS. Striking doctors are playing into their hands | Polly Toynbee

The article discusses the ongoing strikes by British doctors, led by the British Medical Association (BMA), and the potential impact on public perception and the healthcare system. The key points are: 1. The BMA's demand for pay restoration is seen as a "slap in the face" for the health secretary, who had recently given them a 22% pay rise. 2. The strikes are testing the public's sympathy, with 52% of people opposing the strikes and only 34% backing them. 3. The strikes are less disruptive than previous ones, with fewer doctors participating, as only 55% voted in the BMA ballot. 4. The article suggests that the weaker strike still harms patients and poses a challenge for the government, which is relying on falling waiting lists. 5. The author, Polly Toynbee, cautions that the strikes may be "playing into the hands" of those who want to "kill off the NHS", implying that the strikes could be used to undermine public support for the National Health Service.