Image: John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, on a junior doctors picket line.
Today representatives of a number of NHS campaigns, including Momentum NHS, will meet with Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. This is a positive development; we appreciate the opportunity. Here are five issues we hope to raise with John.
1. Will Labour support the NHS Bill?When the NHS Bill to reverse marketisation and privatisation in the health service returned to Parliament on 11 May, only a tiny number of Labour MPs showed up, with the result that the Tories could talk it out without a real fight. None of the Labour leadership were there, despite the fact that John and Jeremy Corbyn have their names on the Bill. Moreover, there are reports that Labour MPs were whipped to not turn up. Is that right? And if so – why? Shouldn’t Labour be championing this legislation rather than running away from it? What can we do to ensure that happens next time?
