Conservative Government’s dangerous underfunding of Social Care and the NHS

At the Kirklees Council Meeting to take place on 18 January 2017, the Labour Group will be tabling the following motion. You will be able to watch the webcast of the meeting and see the debate on this motion here. Below is the motion itself:

Motion submitted in Accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 to address the Conservative Government’s dangerous underfunding of Social Care and the NHS 

This council is extremely concerned about the on-going crisis in Social Care and Health (via the NHS). This has been caused by unprecedented demand, and unprecedented, chronic underfunding by this Conservative Government. 

Starving our social care system of resources puts lives at risk and destroys the quality of life of countless residents of Kirklees.  

As local representatives it is our duty to stand up for Kirklees residents and express our deep concern.  

The motion asks that the leaders of all our political groups sign a joint letter to the relevant Secretaries of State, and campaign through local MPs and the LGA, for an adequate funding of social care and the NHS.

£650 million in 'secret cuts' to the NHS

£650 million in 'secret cuts' to the NHS

£650 million was taken out of the health service by changes to public sector pensions that leave employers fielding extra costs. Schools, hospitals, and forces will pay £2 billion extra in pension contributions, contributions previously made by Government.

The Chancellor announced that he would change the so-called “discount rate” for the pensions, meaning central government will pay less but front line employers will pay more.

A sneaky cut that he didn't have the guts to mention in his speech, much like all the cuts to  payment that help the disabled. To say it was a sneaky nasty mealy mouthed budget would be generous, but he did get cheers and support from the greedy Capitalists sitting around him calculating what the tax cuts for the rich would mean for themselves and their relatives.

I apologise if I missed it but I didn't see Jason rising to object to this further blow to our Health Service, or to stand up for his disabled constituents.

Not surprisingly Radio 4 claimed this as an improvement to peoples pensions - which it is not - rather than a sneaky underhand cut, which it is. Good to see that the BBC's (Broadcasting By Capitalists) New Political Editor is maintain the high standard of support for their conservative friends.

EU - US DEAL TO CARVE UP THE NHS

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.

Cllr Simon Alvy: Campaigning to protect Dewsbury District Hospital

There have been a few letters in the Spen Guardian asking what Local Councillors have done to protect Dewsbury District Hospital. Local peoples concerns are understandable and I think it is important to let you all know I am actively campaigning, not just as a councillor, but as a member of the local community.

Prior to becoming a councillor in May this year I was already speaking out as part of MP Mike Wood's Save Our NHS group and took to the streets at both save our hospital marches in Dewsbury.

Since becoming a councillor I have lobbied the joint health scrutiny panel on behalf of my worried constituents and a local hospital campaign group, attended Clinical Commissioning Group meetings and questioned the chair Dr Kelly about their plans as well as responding via letter to Simon Reevel's bizarre request in the Huddersfield Examiner for the Dewsbury A&E to be closed.

I have done all this for several reasons; as a rugby player I was always lucky enough to have a high quality local A&E to call upon when injured, more recently we have used the services of a consultancy led maternity ward and having a young family draw comfort from having comprehensive hospital services within easy reach. Being able to use our local hospital means  not only having good local service but also the support of family close by which is so important particularly to children and older people.

During my election campaign many people raised the issue of the future of our hospital on the doorstep and no one I spoke to believed it was safe. This why I have and will continue to campaign to safeguard local services.

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