Parliament was given the tool it needs today to save the NHS. Whether this is dropped or left to rust in a dark cupboard somewhere as the NHS is broken up and sold off, is up to MPs. So it’s up to the public to make sure this precise opportunity is not neglected or conveniently forgotten: the NHS Reinstatement Bill.
The Reinstatement Bill has now gained the support of well over the dozen MPs a Bill can have to be ‘tabled before Parliament’. It attracted the support of MPs Caroline Lucas, Andrew George, John Pugh, Michael Meacher, Chris Williamson, Roger Godsiff,Kelvin Hopkins,Jeremy Corbyn,John McDonnell,Eilidh Whiteford,Hywell Williams and Katy Clark (who have put their names to the Bill), as well as Stewart Hosie, Angus Robertson, Angus MacNeil, Mike Weir, Pete Wishart and Chris Williamson.
Caroline Lucas presented the Bill itself on the floor of the Commons. This consisted of Caroline being asked who is introducing the Bill, reading out the names of the other MPs, and then walking three steps down the middle of the Commons, bowing, taking three more steps, bowing again, and then handing the Bill in at the table. It was then read out by the clerk and formally listed as one of this year’s bills. Hurrah.
