Starmer’s Labour have consistently spat in the face of workers. Nevertheless, it’s most likely they’ll get into power.
NHS workers should have no illusions in ‘Sir’ Keir (‘my mum’s a nurse’) Starmer and his gang.
They’ve already laid the ground for privatisation, offering to cut the astronomical waiting list with…more investment in private healthcare.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, meanwhile, has been screeching ‘fiscal responsibility’ at every opportunity. This means more austerity, on top of cuts that have already claimed the lives of thousands.
Labour’s pledge of 40,000 more appointments, when stagnant pay and heavy workloads are already leading to burnout, means that this is either another empty promise, or that skeleton crews will be further squeezed to keep the NHS running.
When it comes to doctors’ strikes, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said that our union (the BMA) is “living on another planet”. This sets the tone for the battles that health workers will face against a Labour government.
Most of my colleagues’ responses to the incoming health secretary are either “who?”, or “he’s just the same as the Tories”.
For slimy Wes, the NHS is simply a vehicle for syphoning off funds to his chums in the private healthcare sector. No wonder he’s asked us to stop our strikes.
We are striking to save the NHS. Only fairly-paid workers and well-staffed hospitals can provide high-quality care.
Left to Streeting and Starmer, waiting lists would increase. Left to us, under a planned economy, funded by expropriating Wes’ parasitic pals, the NHS could grow and help more people.
It’ll be a tough struggle, but it’s one we need to fight.
- Victory to the junior doctors! For full-pay restoration for all NHS staff.
- For united action across the NHS and the entire public sector!
- Reverse all privatisation and austerity. Make the billionaires pay!
- Expropriate the profiteers! Put health workers in control.
- Save our NHS with socialist policies!
