With the NHS across England under increasing threat from this government, Emma Reynolds voted for Labour’s new Bill to repeal the Tories’ new competition rules that drive NHS privatisation at the expense of patient care.Labour MP Clive Efford introduced a Bill on 20 November that would scrap David Cameron’s market framework for the NHS and make sure local NHS patients are always put first.

The Tory-led government has forced hospitals to open themselves up to an agenda which prioritises spending on competition lawyers and tendering exercises instead of on patient care. Labour’s new Bill is a way of protecting and saving our NHS.

Emma said: “The Tories’ approach is to let private companies cherry-pick the most profitable NHS services, regardless of patient need, and spend more money on economic regulators and competition lawyers. UKIP is even worse, Nigel Farage has said that he wants to scrap the NHS and replace it with a system of private insurance.

“Labour is different. We share people’s values about the NHS and together we can ensure that the health service once again puts patients before profits. Labour will invest the money the NHS needs, with a £2.5 billion Time to Care package to fund new staff including 20,000 more nurses – investment the Tories and UKIP will not match.

“I had no hesitation in voting for this Bill as it will make sure patients in Wolverhampton North East get better care.”

November 2014