The first was Dr Anwari Ali. Dr Ali is GP and, until this week, was a Labour Councillor. In a past poster campaign, Dr Ali has been chosen as one of the faces of the NHS. She said:
“I have been a lifelong Labour supporter, but I believe the country cannot afford five more years of Gordon Brown. As a GP working on the frontline in the largest practice in the East End, I have become increasingly disillusioned with Labour's failure to reform the NHS. The past decade has seen this Government waste millions of pounds on bureaucracy in hospitals. Gordon Brown's obsession with top down targets and a tick box culture has ruined the morale and goodwill of the national health staff. Ill health and early death in the East End is a direct result of Labour's failure to bring real reform to the NHS.”
The second was Professor David Kerr, a lifelong Labour voter who campaigned with Tony Blair in 2001. Professor Kerr was the winner of the Nye Bevan 'award for innovation'. He argues:
“To say that we have run out of steam, I would say definitely, definitely yes... We have got lost in the blizzard of increasingly irrelevant targets. The position now is disenfranchising, dull and disconnected. That is the clinical reality.”
Professor Kerr suggests:
“[The Tories] are more committed to the NHS that we love and understand as free at the point of access and offering universal care. Only that degree of certainty would convince me to go and work for them.”
The NHS is a great British institution. I'm enormously proud of the NHS and enormously proud of the fact that healthcare in Britain is free at the point of delivery. Dr Ali and Professor Kerr have this week confirmed that we are now the party of the NHS.
I have been a lifelong Tory voter but never again until the ABC (Anything But Conservative) party become conservative again.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a North Durham 'pit' village was fortunate enough to be selected for a "Grammar" school education and have used that opportunity to build a successful business, be an employer and become socially mobile. Now living in county Druham once more as I love this part of the world.
whilst I loathe the spiteful wrecking Nu-Labour have done to our once great country's democracy, historic institutions and heritage, there is no difference in policy between the three main parties now, ergo voters have no choice. only more of the same.
The Tories have abandoned the traditional conservative values the majority cherish all in favour of trying to win the "centre (left) ground" do you and CHQ really believe that the vast majority of the electorate want "more of the same"? so instead of treating us with the paternalistic contempt of "we know best" maybe you should "listen" to what our concerns are and publicly espouse policy detail on how you'd achieve it?
The Tories are so far divorced from reality on all the major issues facing Britain today:
The EU (surrender of our national sovereignty)
Global warming (or lack of it!)
Immigration (The EU control our borders and always will until we leave)
Public Sector expediture and deficits
Selective Education
Criminal Justice System (or lack of Justice)
You are an educated man Mr Skelton, you hold a first class honours degree from the Politics faculty at Hull. Can't you work out for yourself why the latest YouGov poll shows the Tory lead dropping to just two points?
I don't expect you'll publish my critique on your blog....perhaps as your leader Dave has publicly demonstrated in bulldozing CHQ chosen candidates onto local party associations you'll only want "yes" people to comment but I could be wrong? I will salute your courage to accept criticism publicly if you do publish my comments and perhaps be convinced that maybe you are "listening"
Andy - excellent comments and you should have faith - he approved your post straight away!
ReplyDeleteThank you for publishing my comments....
ReplyDelete