MORE than 500 people have signed up for a “Protect the NHS” campaign mounted by the Labour Party in Warrington.
Key activists and councilors from Warrington North and Warrington South joined forces to collect signatures with a street stall at Market Gate.
Passers by were encouraged to support the party’s opposition to the Government’s “Health and Social Care Bill”.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones, Nick Bent, the unsuccessful General Election candidate for Warrington South, and Labour councilors from across the borough took part in the event.
Helen Jones said: “I was very pleased to be able to speak with so many people from
Warrington North..
“The Tories are attempting to privatise our NHS by stealth and that is why I will continue to fight these proposals in Parliament – because I know my constituents value our health services, and I know the NHS is too important to people in Warrington for these drastic changes spearheaded by the Tories to go unchallenged.”
Mr Bent added: “The Labour Government delivered shorter waiting times and massive investment into our NHS. David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s plans threaten to turn back the clock. That’s why so many Warrington people joined our campaign and showed just how strongly the town feels about the Coalition’s agenda.
“I want to thank everyone who came and spoke to us and signed the petition.”
Labour’s campaign even received intergalactic support – as Star Wars’ Darth Vadar
added his name to the hundreds who signed up.
Chairman of Warrington North Labour Party, and councillor for Poulton South Lottie Ladbury said: “As a soon-to-be-qualified student nurse, I know how devastating this
Government’s plans will be – they’re even a step too far for Darth Vadar, who
enthusiastically signed up to protect our NHS!
“The street stall was a real success and showed without doubt there is no appetite for David Cameron’s path to devastation in this town.”
Residents can still add their name to the Labour Party’s “Protect the NHS” campaign by
signing the online petition at: www.warringtonlabour.com.
Pictured: Helen Jones and Nick Bent get the petition under way.
500 sign up to protect the NHS
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
4 Comments
With regards to privatisation, it is worth noting that GPs practices are private businesses, many senior clinicians and surgeons work in private practice to supplement their NHS salaries and virtually all suppliers to the NHS are private sector businesses. Apart from being made well, what is of most concern to people is that the provision of healthcare is “free” at the point of use, not who provides it. Worth noting that in England this year the “free” NHS will cost the taxpayer £100 billion. There is no doubting that in many instances the NHS does a great job with some highly skilled staff, alas it is abused by some of its patients, and as an organisation it could be improved, and it needs to in order to deal with increasing demand and the financial constraints of a highly indebted country. It is always disappointing when politicians jump on the NHS bandwagon to bolster their vote when they are struggling. It is unfortunate for politics in the UK at the moment that the Labour Party is seen largely as an irrelevance with a leader who is not seen as a Prime Minister in waiting. Opposition to the current UK Government seems to be coming mainly from within its own ranks.
So….Darth Vader signed up….. I guess that sums up what I have always said…..to vote Liebour, you must be from a different planet!!!
Presumably “saving” the NHS means slashing the budget as Labour promised to do before the election
I understand that no member of the Labour run council turned up at the AGM for Warrington HNS PCT – Double standards again Labour – you couldn’t spare time – then again you only gave staff 5 minutes and 21 seconds of no questions at your Exe Board. That’s how much Warrington means to you. Shame on you all.