About a hundred people held a protest outside Hove Conservative MP Mike Weatherley’s office this afternoon (Saturday 17 March).
They were demonstrating about the coalition government’s Health and Social Care Bill which is likely to be finally voted through in Parliament in the coming week.
The demo was organised by Brighton Keep Our NHS Public and Brighton Stop the Cuts Coalition.
They want Mr Weatherley and the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, Simon Kirby, to “kill the bill” – to vote it down on Monday (19 March).
They fear that it will lead to more private companies running parts of the National Health Service.
And they are concerned that private companies would put profits before patient care.
Several prominent Greens attended the protest and the party’s Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas was one of the speakers outside Hove Town Hall.
Shortly afterwards the protesters made their way to Mr Weatherley’s nearby office in Church Road.
As they arrived, Mr Weatherley tweeted: “This weekend I’m relaxing at home. Might stick on a film. Any recommendations?”
One protester said that he would resist the temptation to suggest Carry On Doctor in case his political opponent mistook a Twitter message as a sign of approval for the health reforms.
Two Sussex Police minibuses turned up as the protesters set off for Churchill Square in Brighton where, after a last brief speech, they dispersed.
There were no arrests.
Caroline Lucas said: “Despite hollow government assurances and some cosmetic changes to the Health and Social Care Bill in recent weeks, the reality is that its main purpose – to vastly increase the commercialisation of the NHS – remains intact.
“The government has no mandate for any of this, from the voters or in the coalition agreement.
“We must now join together to force the Prime Minister to drop the bill.
Councillor Rob Jarrett, the cabinet member for adult social care and health on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “This bill isn’t privatisation by stealth, it’s privatisation in broad daylight.
MP’s Weatherley and Kirby will not put patients, carers and the country first. They will obey the Whip and put party political interest first by OBEYING the Whip’s instruction to vote for the Bill. That is what being a politician is all about.
I note the Greens say their Group on Brighton & Hove City Council is not whipped. And every once in a while you do see a rebel vote with conscience before party….as cllr Alex Phillips did at Budget Council.