There have been discussions about calling a national demonstration against
the Health Bill in January or February, backed by the Labour Party, Unite and
hopefully the TUC. This is something we have been campaigning for, and would be
a fantastic opportunity to mobilise the massive opposition to the Health Bill.
But we need to start planning now to make it a huge show of strength demanding
that the Bill is dropped.
- This week's London KONP meeting encouraged everyone to urgently
write to your unions, Brendan Barber from the TUC and Andy Burnham from the
Labour Party urging them to announce the date before Christmas.
HOW TO KEEP UP THE POLITICAL
PRESSURE
A combination of massive public opposition and lobbying stopped the bill in
its tracks in the spring of this year. That is what we need again as early as
possible in 2012.
Some suggestions:
- Public meetings in January inviting Andy Burnham organised jointly
by health unions and other local organisations.
- Other publicity actions such as Bevan's Run (see below) or Block the
bridge
- Lobbying Lib Dem MPs who did not vote against the bill such as
Lewisham KONP who plan to protest at Simon Highes.
- Linking up with health workers planning further action over
pensions
Labour's proposal for a "plan B" is a different
approach which came out after our meeting so was not discussed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/14/labour-nhs-plan-b-reforms
SUPPORT BEVAN'S
RUN
Let's greet Clive as he arrives in London after 6
days
Sunday 15 January 2pm
Department of Health, Whitehall
Clive Peedell (Co chair of NHS Consultants Association) will run 60
miles in 6 days
from Aneurin Bevan's Statue in Cardiff to the Department of Health in
London to highlight opposition to the Health
Bill. Follow him on Twitter @cpeedell and #bevansrun.
http://bevansrun.blogspot.com/
HOW TO KEEP LOBBYING
Keep emailing or better still writing to Lords, either ones you have
contacted already or some others.
Find out how they voted on the amendments in the spreadsheet
attached.
Allyson Pollock's briefing attached gives a summary of the arguments around
the latest amendments which could be the basis of your letter.
LONDON KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC
MEETING
TUESDAY 10 JANUARY 7.30pm
Camden Town Hall, Judd St, WC1 (Kings X
tube)
This meeting will discuss the New Year's campaign plans as well
as:
- How parts of the bill are already being put into practice and how to make
it inoperable
- If the bill is scrapped what should alternative policies be