This Monday, Parliament will vote on whether or not to protect the NHS from privatisation in any trade deal.
The Queen's Speech was full of misleading statements and empty promises on the NHS. But Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth's amendment tabled today is a bold move to counter it and protect our NHS from trade deals
The amendment is as follows: [Government wording followed by] ‘… but respectfully regrets that the Gracious Speech does not repeal the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to restore a publicly provided and administered National Health Service and protect it from future trade agreements that would allow private companies competing for services who put profit before public health and that could restrict policy decisions taken in the public interest.’
This amendment is a clear commitment to protecting the NHS from further privatisation and exposure to future trade deals after Brexit. It also calls for the repeal of the widely condemned Health and Social Care Act and the restoration of a publicly run and provided NHS. This has major implications for the future of the health service and will draw a clear dividing line between those MPs who support NHS privatisation, and those who don’t.
This is our chance to make sure the NHS stays out of Trump’s hands
Please contact your MP to ensure they vote for the queen’s speech amendment to protect our NHS.
Our NHS has already been opened up to the market, therefore automatically up for grabs in a trade deal, no matter what Trump and Johnson say is 'on the table'. MPs now have a chance to pick a side. They can stand with the 84% of the public who support a publicly owned NHS. Or they can open up our NHS to Donald Trump's private healthcare lobby.
The Event details are: Johnson, Trump: Hands Off Our NHS - Keep profit out of health care; Monday 21 October, 2pm, Old Palace Yard Westminster, London SW1A 2BE
This government that has slashed funding for the NHS, decimated its services and put its staff under incredible strain. Next week, make sure your MP votes with Labour to protect our NHS from privatisation in any trade deal, including one with Trump.
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Sonia & KONP team