The Cambridge News ran a soft interview with Andrew Lansley on April 30th  (at the start of election week…..)  In it, he denies privatising the NHS.

I’ve written to the Cambridge News today:

Dear Sir,

Andrew Lansley (Cambridge News April 30th) sounds increasingly like an angry child in a temper tantrum – it’s not privatisation, it’s not privatisation, it’s not privatisation! However many times he says it, the plain fact is that privatisation is exactly what is going on in the National Health Service. Just this week we learn that in Suffolk, community health services are to be handed over to private contracting company SERCO. That’s privatisation Mr Lansley. And now the national press have finally picked up on what is happening at Addenbrookes, the Observer this week reported on the private hotel and the private hospital planned to go on site. That’s privatisation Mr Lansley. And don’t forget the prediction from Papworth’s Chief executive that with the private patient cap gone, he expects private work to triple. That’s privatisation Mr Lansley. However much he says otherwise, the facts speak for themselves. Under his watch the National Health Service is being privatised, creating a top-notch service for people with the cash, and a long queue for the rest.

Yours faithfully,

Daniel Zeichner

Chair, Cambridge Labour