I CONDEMN THE SIX MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND WHO SUPPORTED THE TORY BILL TO PRIVATISE THE NHS IN ENGLAND EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATION WILL NOT APPLY IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
It is sickening to see peers from Northern Ireland lining up to support this legislation which will effectively spell the end of the NHS in England.
Yesterday’s vote by the peers to reject Lord Owens call for a full examination the long term implications of this Bill is disgraceful as ignores the representations from the BMA and objections from the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of G.P’s.
Is it morally right that Lords Alderdice, Ballyendmond, Kilclooney, Trimble and Maginnis should vote for such an important piece of legislation which will destroy the NHS in England when it will not affect the people of Northern Ireland?
I suppose it is not surprising that the Ulster Unionists should unite with the Tories to push through this shameful bill which has little public or professional support.
Does this mean that the Ulster Unionists would support a similar privatisation of the Health Service in Northern Ireland?
The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to know if this is indeed their policy.
It is comforting that it is extremely unlikely that the Ulster Unionists will ever have the opportunity to introduce such a bill and it is reassuring that all the DUP peers present rejected the bill.
* BRIAN WILSON WAS FORMER MEMBER OF EASTERN HEALTH BOARD AND MLA FOR NORTH DOWN