NHS Safe in our hands (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

NHS Safe in our hands

August 17, 2009 3:15 PM

LD's visit hospital Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidates, Cllr Graham Longley and Peter Welch both pledged their full support for the NHS following the Conservative Daniel Hannan MEP's claims that it is outdated, unfair and should be scrapped.

As a senior Tory MEP who led the Conservatives out of one European block to another, which is seen as more right wing, his views are particularly worrying as being representative of many Tories.

In the light of this Graham Longley & Peter Welch call upon Southend's two local MP's to do three things:

1. To denounce Tory Daniel Hannan's view about the NHS

2. To confirm that the Tory MEP's representing Southend do not share Daniel Hannan's view and

3. To declare their own support for the NHS

Cllr Longley said that the NHS had considerable support from local people who appreciated the hard work put in by the staff and that Tory Daniel Hannan's comments were an insult to their commitment.

Peter Welch added that the view that the NHS was a sixty year old mistake and which Mr Hannan said was held by many Conservatives was outrageous. The fact that another Tory MEP Roger Helmer supported Daniel Hannans view was especially worrying.

Cllr Longley added that during a recent visit to Southend Hospital together with the LibDem shadow Health Minister Norman Lamb MP and his colleague Peter Welch it was clear that Southend Hospital had services to be proud off and that these services were available when people needed them and not only if they could afford them.

Finally they both agreed that if Daniel Hannan felt so anti the NHS perhaps he should opt out and go and get all his medical treatment in America - that is if he can afford it, and he probably can.