Monday 1 May 2017

Could the Tories intend to 'grab back' Welsh NHS?



Is Leanne Wood right t to ck aim Control of the Welsh NHS could be "grabbed back" by Westminster after the general election 

Health has been devolved in Wales since 1999 and is the responsibility of the Welsh Labour Government.

But maybe Ms Wood remembers David Cameron  "Boarder of Death" controversy when in a a speech to the "Welsh" Conservative Conference in 2014/.

He said

“Patients are waiting weeks and weeks for vital heart scans. One in seven people in Wales is on an NHS waiting list.
“A Cancer Drugs Fund in England – but not here.
“I tell you - when Offa’s Dyke becomes the line between life and death, we are witnessing a national scandal.
“There are people who have seen the ones they love waiting far, far too long for treatment, sometimes dying and these grieving families are in pain.
“They want answers. Investigations. But Labour just do not get it.
“Faced with grief, they demand evidence. Faced with evidence, they demand silence.
“It’s the same old socialist mantra: the system knows best.
“Well, I tell you, after this utter shambles Labour should never dare call themselves the party of the NHS again.”
Some then thought that indicated that the Tories would  use the stare of the Welsh  to reclaim  it .despite the wanton state of the health service in England.

Clearly iif Wales ceases to exit as a political identity if the Tories win the most Welsh seats in June then they will claim to have a mandate from Welsh voters.


The Plaid Cymru leader fears the Tories could "grab back" powers if they increase their UK mandate on June 8. 

She pointed to the list of reserved powers in the recently passed Wales Bill, claiming it suggested there were some powers which could be "dragged back" to Westminster.
"The Tories have attacked the Welsh NHS quite viciously," Ms Wood said.
"If they increase their mandate then I wouldn't put it past them to try to take powers back from Wales over the NHS, and then, of course, we risk our NHS being privatised."

 A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: 

"Responsibility for the Welsh NHS has been a matter for the Welsh Government for a generation, so these claims are a cynical attempt by Plaid to exploit uncertainty over the devolved settlement and should be treated with the contempt they deserve."In fact, the Welsh Conservatives in government have strengthened the devolved settlement in recent years, and the recent Wales Bill offers greater clarity and accountability than ever before in the devolved era.

"But the Welsh Conservative will not decide on this. It will Mrs May who will claim that she has not only been given a Mandate to conduct Brexit as she likes, but to start to privatise the NHS .

How much would it be easier for her to do this if she seized the Welsh NHS.

She might even turn her eyes to Scotland if there was a no vote in a second referendum,  Claiming that this would strengthen the Union.

The "Strong and Stable mantra is a cover for give me claim that I have a mandate to run things as I want, and has she has shown in her actions over Brexit , she will be willing to silence any  opposition in Parliament  no matter what.

A Tory victory on June the 8th will see the Tories ,via gerrymandering of seats and manipulating voter registration, become the permanent party of power

The only way to free ourselves of this is to free ourselves of the Union,

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