JOYCE WATSON AM is backing a public campaign to stop NHS privatisation.
The People’s NHS campaign is calling on the UK Government to protect the NHS from “irreversible privatisation” under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
More than 25,000 people have so far signed the petition to PM David Cameron, which reads: “Our NHS is precious and mustn’t be included in TTIP. We call on you to use your veto and make sure it is exempt.”
Outlining her support for the campaign, Mrs Watson said: “I am deeply opposed to any agreement that would lead to permanent privatisation of the NHS or any other public service. The National Health Service can only exist as long as it remains just that: a national public service – throughout the United Kingdom.”
The AM continued: “Although the Welsh Labour Government is fundamentally opposed to selling off healthcare here, I have serious concerns about the implications for Wales of further and deeper privatisation over the border.”
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a series of ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and USA. The aim of TTIP is to reduce regulatory barriers for big business in areas like food safety law, environmental legislation and banking regulations. Opponents claim TTIP would open up public services to international corporate interests and reduce the power of individual governments.
The Labour Mid and West AM added: “A big part of TTIP is about opening up Europe’s public services to US companies. This is a very dangerous moment for our National Health Service and we must fight for it to remain in public hands.”
The campaign’s website explains: “A new EU trade deal with the US could make those NHS sell-offs, and all that follow them, irreversible. Under the agreement, our elected government would not be able to bring NHS services back into public ownership. Otherwise, they could get sued by American multinationals.”
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