Andrew Robertson

Andrew Robertson is the founder of the blog Social Investigations and has been a freelance investigative journalist for 20 years, writing in the Independent, Red Pepper and for Indymedia. Follow him on Twitter @socialindepth.

Should Peers be able to vote on health reforms that affect their financial interests?

A new list of Peer's financial interests in healthcare-related companies raises eyebrows again. Is declaring their interests enough, or - like councillors - should they be banned from voting on issues that might affect their financial interests?

By Andrew Robertson

/ 7 May 2014

English charity sector lobbied Hunt to keep controversial NHS privatisation rules

Who benefits if charity leaders lobby for more competition in the NHS?

By Andrew Robertson

/ 14 Aug 2013

2020 Health working with Lord Howe to make the NHS a"UK Plc Asset"

A healthcare think tank with multiple links to coalition peers wants to turn the NHS into an “asset” of “UK Plc”, according to documents released by the Department of Health under the Freedom of Information Act which also suggest the government needs to “charm” private healthcare “international co

By Andrew Robertson

/ 24 Jun 2013

"This Can't Go On" - Cameron hires private health lobbyist into the heart of government

Nick Seddon, former lobbyist and private healthcare advocate, today walks through the doors of `10 Downing Street to lead on health policy formation for David Cameron. What does this say about Cameron’s real attitude to the lobbying game he has publicly decried? And what kind of policies will Sedd

By Andrew Robertson

/ 13 May 2013

Healthcare coup: the Lords didn't save us the first time

Today the Lords will likely vote through the Coalition's disastrous privatisation regulations, section 75, opening nearly all NHS services to competition - a health market. Why, considering their extensive conflicts of interest, are many of these Lords not barred from voting?

By Andrew Robertson

/ 24 Apr 2013

What was the real purpose of Virgin's mysterious report into NHS customer service?

In 2000, Labour asked Virgin to report on customer services in the NHS. What they delivered went well beyond this remit, proposing policies and agendas eerily similar to what would become New Labour's NHS marketisation strategy. Who were the mystery authors, and what was Labour's role?

By Andrew Robertson

/ 30 Jan 2013

Reform: a charity or a conduit for privatisation?

As the major parties prepare for the conference season, Reform, a free market think tank, will be central to the discussion of the future of public services. But while registered as a charity, the organisation appears less concerned with helping those in need than providing a political platform fo

By Andrew Robertson

/ 20 Sep 2012

Will the private interests of peers swell the vote for England's health bill?

More than one in four Conservative peers - 62 out of the total of 216 - and many other members of the House of Lords have a direct financial interest in the radical re-shaping of the NHS that is perilously close to being enacted. These peers have been able to vote on the crucial divisions that wil

By Andrew Robertson

/ 19 Mar 2012