The 282 MPs who voted to end NHS privatisation

Jon Ashworth, Caroline Lucas and John McDonnell with the words "Hands off our NHS" over the top

24 October 2019

Yesterday MPs had the opportunity to put an end to NHS privatisation.

  • To end Richard Branson suing the NHS.

  • To end private healthcare companies draining NHS budgets.

  • To end the threat from a trade deal with Trump - because if we ended privatisation, our NHS would not be open for business the way it is right now.

Our campaign - with Keep Our NHS Public, and working in partnership with change.org, OurNHS, Global Justice Now, Health Campaigns Together, Trade Justice Movement, 999 call for the NHS, Socialist Health Association, Public Matters, Transnational Institute, New Economics Foundation, Doctors for the NHS, NHS Support Federation, Campaign for the NHS Reinstatement Bill and Defend Our NHS  - put this debate on the agenda.

Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth boldly took it forward and stood up for OUR NHS.

Battle lines were drawn. MPs took sides. They voted.

We’re sorry to tell you we haven’t won. YET.

The amendment read:

[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.

Labour, the SNP, Plaid, the Independent Group for Change, the Greens, and some Independents voted to protect our NHS from privatisation. 

The Tories, DUP and other Independents voted for business as usual. 

The Liberal Democrats abstained.

We lost 282 to 310.

But it was close. It was the first time that MPs had seriously debated ending privatisation. And Labour strongly, clearly backed the idea of ENDING PRIVATISATION, in parliament.

The NHS is the issue people are most concerned about in this country after leaving the EU. If we do leave the EU, trade deals will put our NHS even more at risk.

MPs who refuse to acknowledge the risks are skating on thin ice.

So what happens next? We fight until we persuade every single MP in the country that they need to sign our pledge.

If your MP hasn’t signed yet, let them know you’re watching their every move. You won’t let them get away with failing to protect our NHS.

Take 1 minute to take action. We've tweaked the message in our template email to make it as persuasive as it can be, whichever party your MP belongs to.

If you haven’t written to your MP yet, NOW IS THE TIME!

Tell your MP to protect the NHS now!

Jon Ashworth, Caroline Lucas and John McDonnell with the words "Hands off our NHS" over the top

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Comments

Marion Hanvey replied on Permalink

Keep the NHS away from American private companies

Anna Harvey replied on Permalink

This our jewel in our crown. To destroy what Nye Bevan gave us "health care at the point of need", not at the point of greed(Tory) mantra, then there will be no hope for our children's future and their children's future. It would be travesty on a grand scale.

Anna Harvey replied on Permalink

It's disgusting that this goverment wants to give up an NHS and deliver it into American business hands and other private business. It is NOT theirs to give away in the first place. As a public service have all paid for it, to sell it off to the highest bidder is just pure out and out theft. I will not let them do this without a fight.

Anna Harvey replied on Permalink

It's disgusting that this goverment wants to give up an NHS and deliver it into American business hands and other private business. It is NOT theirs to give away in the first place. As a public service have all paid for it, to sell it off to the highest bidder is just pure out and out theft. I will not let them do this without a fight.

Samantha cassey replied on Permalink

It is our NHS not the MP's so you have no right to sell it of

Margaret atkins replied on Permalink

For our children & our grandchildrens futures

Margaret Tennyson replied on Permalink

We must save OUR NHS from American companies. This would be disastrous for us and we must fight to save it!!

Barry Dunnage replied on Permalink

The last thing we need in this country is an increased dependency on profit based structures at a time when millions are struggling to survive in what is supposed to be one of the most successful countries win the world. The last thing we need is an even greater increase in difference between rich and poor in the UK. This will only lead to inequality in medical services and further cuts in the NHS.

Rosemary McCrossan replied on Permalink

Please don't sell our nhs down the river it is ours the british people not for america

Anonymous replied on Permalink

A lot of people in the UK can not afford medical treatment with out the NHS

Masood Akhtar replied on Permalink

We want our NHS running the way it is we don't want privatisation

Vera Cracknell replied on Permalink

People in the USA die because their insurance doesn’t cover all their treatment or medication.

It is an appalling system, if you cannot afford insurance that’s tough.

We must save our NHS.

Jamie Crampton replied on Permalink

NHS money should be kept in the NHS, not giving it away in profits to fatcat shareholders.

Jamie Crampton replied on Permalink

NHS money should be kept in the NHS, not giving it away in profits to fatcat shareholders.

Jackie Douglass replied on Permalink

Hands off our NHS Trump. It belongs to us the people in England and we DO NOT WANT IT PRIVATISED

Christina Starmer replied on Permalink

Never we should never ever allow the U.S. to be ever slightly involved in our NHS god help us if this is ever to happen

Dave Dennis replied on Permalink

The British Government have not got the support of the British people to privatize any of OUR National Health services and if they remain selling off any or parts of and or selling out to large American conglomerates the British people are much wiser and will be greatly offended by this unnecessary action which could be politicly fatal to the party or Parties who allow that to happen. Our NHS is sacred to the British people please keep it that way?

Beverley Ferron replied on Permalink

I expect my mp to Protect our NHS from going into privisation. We do Not want to have any deal with America Period especially when it comes to the NHS

Please support the cause to Protect our NHS it is ours and it's not for sale

Beverley Ferron replied on Permalink

I expect my mp to Protect our NHS from going into privisation. We do Not want to have any deal with America Period especially when it comes to the NHS

Please support the cause to Protect our NHS it is ours and it's not for sale

Terence Fowkes replied on Permalink

This Government should not be allowed to bargain with our NHS because of their failures, it’s not the Government’s to sell anyway it belongs to the people !!!!

Ann and John Goodman replied on Permalink

I would have died if it wasn't for N H.S. and how many people would have died.

THE N.H.S. IS NOT FOR THE AMERICAN BIG BUSINESS.

Graham Swallow replied on Permalink

How about a law, demanding 5% brought back in-house, year on year.

William Thompson replied on Permalink

I would not be alive today if not for the NHS, any MP who does not vote to protect our NHS should be voted out at the next eletion

David Roberts replied on Permalink

The Lib-Dems should be ashamed of themselves for abstaining on the vote. It should be highlighted by Labour at every opportunity from now on.

Stephen Pennells replied on Permalink

Having had life-saving surgery from the NHS recently in my family this is dear to my heart. However the NHS is being bled dry by Big Pharma companies with their inflated pricing. We need to fight this also through just justtreatment.org, stopaids.org.uk, and globaljustice.org.uk.

maqbool bibi sharif replied on Permalink

Privatising the NHS, would be the biggest mistake the uk could every make. We rely on the NHS, especially the working class.

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