For those that
couldn’t make it, here’s how it went down...
The second
pre-Election debate on the future of the NHS was a pressure cooker in every
sense of the word. Organized by the folk at Defend the NHS Sussex, the meeting
had been advertised so well that people had to be turned away because it was a
full house. This of course was a shame in that some people couldn’t get in, and
meant it was bloody hot for those of us that did, but it was also brilliant to
see so many of my neighbours in the community getting engaged with local
politics in the run up to the general election, coming out to learn and to put
questions to their Candidates for MP for Brighton Pavilion.
And what topic
could ever be more of an incentive to come out to debate than healthcare?
The scene was set
by two guest speakers from the NHS who outlined the increasing pressures and
demands put upon them and their colleagues by cuts to funding and shortages of
staff. More alarmingly perhaps, we heard how the underlying premise of the NHS,
that of free and equal healthcare for all, was being undermined by the
privatisation and fragmentation of services, a process begun by New Labour and
accelerated by the Coalition government.
We next heard from
the candidates themselves, which were Purna Sen on behalf of Labour, Clarence
Mitchell from the Tories, and Caroline Lucas of the Green Party.
Having never
heard Purna Sen speak before, I can only say in honesty that I was overwhelmingly
underwhelmed. Here was the great challenge to Caroline Lucas’ seat that I’ve
been told about, and for me she was anything but convincing. She told us how
she wanted not only to save the NHS but to nourish it, and how she was the only
candidate who was part of a party that could bring about the changes that are needed,...
but therein exactly lay the problem of her answers for me; everything she said
was filtered through the prerogative of the Labour Party. I wanted to know what
Purna believed in and what her plans were, only to hear “I haven’t come here
with the answers”. One can’t help but feel she would do little more than make
up the numbers if elected...
I was upset though to hear that she has been the
target of a harassment campaign because of her decision to stand ‘against
Caroline’, and agree 100% with her belief in anybody's right to stand and be
involved in local politics. To run for a seat takes bravery, commitment, and
dedication, and all voices included add to the richness of the dialogue I say.
And yes, that even
goes for the Conservative candidate Mr Clarence Mitchell, who somewhat
expectedly had a lot of explaining to do on behalf of his party. He did not get off to the best start when he told the
audience that he “does not accept” their picture of the NHS as being “a smoking
wreckage”, and instead believes it to be a world class service that has been
improved by the reigning government, a view challenged by a guest speaker who wondered why then we were all here in the
first place?
Mr Mitchell
pointed out that at present only 6% of NHS services were under private
contracts, but had to be reminded that since the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 fully 50% of new contracts had been awarded to private companies.
He went on to say
that he does not believe in the same public spending policies as the Greens and
Labour, and innocently asked “what is wrong with being a financially
responsible government who is getting the economy right”? Thus ensued a riotous objection from the audience, with Mr Mitchell seeming lost for words when
asked where the UK’s
unpaid tax bill of over £120 billion fitted with responsible finance. Predictably,
his only defence was to attack the Greens ‘whacky’ economic policies of
scrapping Trident Nuclear Defence and moving the Queen into a council house, which
drew the loudest cheers of the evening!
Still, although
the many present disagreed with Clarence’s opinions, his presence at the debate
was valuable, and we should respect his attendance despite the likely probability of a
hostile reception.
Just as
predictable perhaps, were the insightful comments of the Green Party’s Caroline
Lucas. She talked of how the NHS could soon be little more than a logo, how the
private sector were “circling like vultures” to snap up a new range of business
opportunities, and how the foresight of Labour’s Private Finance Initiative was
“like building a hospital with payday loans”. And where Ms Sen had seemed
unable to provide any specific remedies to these problems, Ms Lucas told us how
she had recently tabled an NHS Bill which is designed to repeal the Act of 2012
and bring healthcare back into public ownership, which was wonderful to hear
for everyone in attendance. And more than this, to resounding approval all
round, she said she would like to go even further and bring back free dental
and eye care for all. Yes please Caroline!
But of course, with
a nod to all the candidates, we are in the midst of an election campaign... a
time when promises are made to win votes and can quickly be forgotten when the
polls are closed. However, on the emotive subject of
the NHS one feels, especially with the determined folks behind Defend the NHS
Sussex to answer to, all candidates will be held to strict account.
The next People Debate on the NHS is on 9th April in Kemptown, and will include Labour and Green candidates,
but perhaps no Tory representative, as we were told the invite had been
declined... Whilst this would be a shame, I would like to see a bucket of lard
act as a replacement, as threatened by the meeting organizers!
For anyone who’s
interested, the full debate was recorded by Radio Free Brighton and can be
heard here,
I would also thoroughly recommend watching this:
Otherwise, I hope to see you all at the People Assembly Debate on Housing, Tuesday at 7pm at Brighthelm Centre
