MPs with links to private health shouldn’t vote on today’s NHS bill, Labour demand

MPs who could potentially make a financial gain from NHS privatisation should not vote on the bill Clive Efford is putting to Parliament today, according to Labour. Research released earlier this week found that 70 MPs have links to private healthcare firms – including David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Today’s Private Member’s Bill aims to halt privatisation in the health service by repealing sections of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that enforce competition in the NHS. It would also ensure that the NHS is exempt from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Efford, the MP for Eltham, says his bill “takes a scalpel to the Coalition Government’s hated Health and Social Care Act and cuts out those bits that force services to be put out to tender – where the private sector can cherry pick the most lucrative services that yield the most profits.”

We are expecting most Labour MPs to turn up in Parliament today to vote in favour of the bill, and the party is requesting that any MP with links to private health do not turn up. Unite union found that 64 Conservative MPs and 6 Lib Dem MPs have financial ties to private healthcare firms.

Labour’s Shadow Secretary of Health Andy Burnham said:

“Labour is not waiting for next year’s Election but acting right now to free the NHS from David Cameron’s market.

“No MP has the permission of their constituents to put the NHS up for sale, but those with links to private health shamelessly voted it through Parliament without a mandate from the public.

“They should do the decent thing and stay away from the Commons today. For the rest, it is their last chance before the General Election to admit their mistake and vote to stop NHS privatisation.”

Burnham came top in this week’s Shadow Cabinet rankings among LabourList readers.