Next steps for the NHS Reinstatement Bill
Published July 28, 2016 August 24, 2016 by NHSbill2015_Admin ~ 0
On 13th July 2016, the NHS Reinstatement Bill was successfully presented in the House of Commons, by Margaret Greenwood, Labour MP for Wirral West.
Although opposed by Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, he did not call for a vote and so it was introduced by acclamation. A second reading was scheduled for 4th November 2016.
The 11 named supporters of the Bill consisted of 9 Labour MPs, plus one Green and one Lib Dem – but sadly no SNP MPs (who are supporters of the Bill)– as follows (in the order out read out by Margaret at the end of the debate):
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion
Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central
Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow
Nic Dakin, Labour MP for Scunthorpe
Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle
Mike Kane, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East
Liz McInnes, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton
Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East
Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens and Whiston
Stephen Twigg, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby
John Pugh, Lib Dem MP for Southport
The Bill was presented with the same long title as the previous two Bills, and must now be published in full before the second reading.
Outside the Commons, Keep Our NHS Public organised a spirited rally. (You can watch a short clip of the event below). Diane Abbott, the new shadow health spokesperson, came along and said she supported the principles of the Bill. Margaret Greenwood came out to speak after the debate and explained what had happened. Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central also came out and spoke to campaigners.
The debate was well attended by Labour MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn.
Ken Clarke, Tory Health Minister from 1988-1990 at the start of the internal market, also attended.
Because the Bill was introduced as a Ten Minute Rule Bill, only the introducing MP and one opposing MP were allowed to speak.
It is positive that the Bill was not voted down, was presented by a Labour MP, has 9 Labour MPs as named supporters who were not named supporters on either of the previous two Bills, and seems now to have the support of the Labour front bench.
The Bill is scheduled for its second reading on 4th November 2016.
Margaret Greenwood MP – Press Release
Jeremy Corbyn's commitment to renationalise the NHS in England