Over 80% of voters in PM’s & Health
Secretary’s seats demand NHS veto from US trade deal
An exclusive poll conducted by Survation for Unite, in Prime
Minister David Cameron’s constituency Witney and health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s
South West Surrey constituency, reveals massive opposition to the EU-US trade
deal that spells the irreversible sell-off of the NHS.
A significant majority of voters in Witney and South West
Surrey, 82 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, oppose the inclusion of the
NHS in the EU-US trade deal called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP).
73 per cent of those polled in Witney and 70 per cent of
those polled in South West Surrey want David Cameron to use his veto in Europe
to prevent the NHS falling into the scope of this agreement.
The poll of 2000 people across both constituencies also
reveals that local NHS services are by far the most important issue for voters.
The poll was conducted between 6 and 12 November.
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: “Even
in these Conservative constituencies there is massive opposition to the NHS
being part of the US trade deal. David Cameron’s and Jeremy Hunt’s constituents
expect them to act and veto the NHS from TTIP.
“The NHS unites this country, it the
single most important local issue for voters. The Prime Minister has cut
himself adrift from public opinion by refusing to listen to the public. They
are demanding that he vetos the NHS out of TTIP. Unite has polled 17 Tory
seats and in every case voters oppose the NHS being part of TTIP.
“David Cameron has claimed that
there is ‘no threat’ to the NHS from TTIP. If this is true, why doesn’t Cameron
just remove the NHS from the trade deal? Other countries have vetoed sectors
from the trade deal. The Government has failed to give one decent reason why
the NHS should be in this trade deal.
“Britain won’t be fooled by vague
assurances over the NHS, the people of this country do not believe it’s right
for the NHS to be part of an American trade deal.”
The deal, known as TTIP, is being negotiated behind closed
doors, between EU bureaucrats and delegates from the United States.
It is the largest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated and
threatens to make privatisation of the NHS irreversible by giving the
profits of corporations precedence over national lawmakers. TTIP could grant
American multinationals, or any firm with American investors, the power to sue
the government if it ever attempted to take privatised health services back
into public ownership.
An earlier extensive telephone poll, carried out
by Survation in August this year, questioned over 2,600 voters across 13
marginal Conservative-held seats. Respondents were asked if the NHS should be
excluded from the deal and if David Cameron should use Britain’s veto. Across
all constituencies, of those that stated a view - 68 per cent said they opposed
the inclusion of the NHS as part of the deal. Opposition was highest from those
planning on voting for Labour or UKIP, 78 per cent and 77 per cent
respectively. Just 23 per cent of Conservative voters supported inclusion.
Unite also polled voters in Stockton South and Rochester
& Strood in both cases voter opposed the NHS in TTIP and expected Cameron
to be prepared to use his veto.
