THE PRESENT FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF SCOTLAND IS TO PLEDGE AGAINST ANY PLANS TO PRIVATISE THE NHS
- 30 May
The present First Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon will pledge that "Scottish National Party (SNP) MP's at Westminster will vote against any plans to privatise the NHS or cut health spending in England", the Guardian reports.
It is also expected that Sturgeon will do the following as proof of her party's commitment to fighting against further austerity:
- Reject charges that would not be in line with the SNP's promise not to interfere in English spending decisions
- Argue that any NHS spending cuts decided in Westminster will reduce Treasury funding for Holyrood
- Endorse calls for a new 50p top rate of taxation if introduced across the UK
- Call for an end to a long-standing cap of 1% on public sector pay rises; a £118bn economic stimulus package for the Uk economy and protection of the universal winter fuel payments for older people
Sturgeon said this before Tuesday's manifesto launch:
"While the polls have narrowed, the Tories are still on course to win the election.
"Labour proved beyond any doubt that they were unable to provide the opposition needed to keep the Tories in check in the last parliament. Only the SNP can provide the strong opposition that Scotland needs to protect our schools, hospitals and vital public services from deeper Tory cuts and further damaging austerity."
The SNP's deputy leader, Angus Robertson also said:
"We are committed to increasing the budget of NHS Scotland by £2bn by the end of the current Scottish Parliament. We could do so much more if the UK government ended its austerity agenda south of the border.
"The Tories have been actively opening up the Nhs for private companies in their attempts to roll back all forms of state intervention aimed at improving people's lives and keeping our population healthy."
What do you think?
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For more details, visit the Guardian.
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