Last week I supported a Bill brought in by Labour MP Clive Efford, which challenges NHS Privatisation. I was delighted with the overwhelming support for the Bill and want to thank everyone who contacted me about it. The Bill was a success – it was passed by 241 votes to 18.

With the local NHS under increasing threat, there has been widespread concern from local people, including healthcare professionals, doctors and nurses.

The Bill will scrap David Cameron’s most harmful plans for NHS privatisation, which were brought in by the Government’s 2012 Health and Social Care Act. It will also protect the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would have opened the NHS to further privatisation opportunities.

I believe it will also help restore the right values to the NHS, putting my constituents’ needs before profits. 

Labour’s stance has always been the same, to protect our NHS. We will rescue our services with our £2.5 billion Time to Care package which will fund new staff including 20,000 more nurses -; investment the Tories will not match.