At the mercy of Wall Street

It would appear that Tories and Lib Dems are alone in thinking including the NHS in the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) trade agreement is a good idea.

Seventy MEPs revealed that every other party representing England, Scotland and Wales in the European Parliament have opposed the inclusion of the NHS in TTIP.

TTIP is a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America. It is the biggest joint trade deal ever negotiated and threatens to make the privatisation of the NHS irreversible.

Secret courts would 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.

“The Tories and the Liberal Democrats are isolated and on the wrong side of public opinion,” said Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary.

“They believe that allowing US corporations to override Britain’s sovereignty over the NHS is more important than the concerns of the British people.”

MEPs were asked recently to clarify if they agreed that the NHS should be fully and clearly exempted from TTIP.

Alex Fox, a Tory MEP, mistakenly thought that the NHS was not included in TTIP even though his own government recently clarified that it is.

“Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht has made it clear that the door is open for the UK government to exempt the NHS,” added Len. “Cameron must veto the NHS before our local services are left to the mercy of Wall Street.”

On Tuesday October 21 the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has also called for the NHS to be excluded from TTIP.

“Our country is united against this trade deal and the disastrous impact it will have on our health,” added Len. “The government stands alone – it is time for David Cameron to wake up, stand up for Britain and exempt health from TTIP.”