In January 2015, the SNP stated in a press release that they were ‘indicating support for the Campaign for an NHS Reinstatement Bill 2015 being pursued in England by, among others, Professor Allyson Pollock, Professor of Public Health Research and Policy.’

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the SNP said:

“The current Westminster agenda of austerity, privatisation and patient charging in the NHS in England threatens to harm Scotland’s budget, on which our NHS depends.

“Therefore, SNP MPs elected in May are prepared to vote for a Bill which would restore the National Health Service in England to the accountable public service it was always meant to be.

“Such a step would be good for England by giving people their health service back – and also represent enlightened self-interest for Scotland, by protecting the Scottish budget from the cuts which English privatisation are undoubtedly paving the way for. We want Scotland to be fully financially autonomous, but until that is achieved SNP MPs helping to reverse English health privatisation would be a vote in the Scottish national interest too.”

On 11 March 2015, when the NHS Bill was presented in the House of Commons, the SNP MPs – Stewart Hosie, Angus MacNeil, Mike Weir and Eilidh Whiteford all came to show their support.

On 17 April 2015 they reaffirmed their support in a press release.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This page was written prior to the General Election in May 2015. The information below is provided for historical interest only, and refers to individuals that were MPs and candidates prior to the General Election.

 

Below are the MPs and candidates that have added their personal support.

Mike Weir
SNP MP
Angus

“I fully support the NHS Reinstatement Bill. The NHS is vitally important to us all and I personally have good reason to be thankful to the NHS. 

In Scotland the SNP Government have been very clear that we will not allow privatisation of the NHS. Although the Scottish NHS is devolved, however, the changes in the way it is funded in England could have a direct impact on the funding available to the Scottish NHS.

The Bill would prevent the privatisation of services in England and return the NHS to what it was intended to be. That would also remove the threat to funding for the Scottish NHS. This is a bill that we should fight for together in the best interests of all the peoples of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

Dr Eilidh Whiteford
SNP MP
Banff and Buchan

“We are very fortunate in Scotland that our NHS remains well-funded and in public hands – true to the founding principles of the NHS.

Creeping privatisation is a threat to free NHS services across these islands and if re-elected, I will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those across the UK who wish to see our NHS remain in public hands.”

 

 

Dr Paul Monaghan
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

“I fully support the restoration of England’s NHS and the campaign for an NHS Reinstatement Bill 2015.

“The policies of the current UK Government that aspire to privatise England’s NHS while simultaneously imposing austerity on vulnerable people are not in the public interest and will do nothing to promote wellbeing in any part of the UK. I want Scotland’s NHS to be protected from the requirements of patient charging and I want the people of England to be able to continue to access their health services free at the point of need.

“An NHS Reinstatement Bill will be good for the people of England and will help ensure that Scotland’s NHS can remain firmly in public ownership.”

Dr Philippa Whitford
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Central Ayrshire

“The NHS is one of Britain’s greatest achievements of the 20th century. Along with Social Security and free education, it saved and transformed lives. Sadly, in England, Social Security is being destroyed and free education is a thing of the past. Now the NHS is being broken up and franchised out for private firms to make profit from patients! This is destroying the cooperative and collaborative nature of the NHS. The SNP will be proud to support the NHS Re-establishment Bill to reverse privatisation in NHS England because, as well as helping those trying to save the NHS in England, we see that as the best way to protect our unified, public Scottish NHS.”

 

Chris Law
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Dundee West

“As the son of a senior nurse whom dedicated her life to the excellent work of the NHS and its core purpose, namely to serve the people of the UK and without prejudice I give my whole support to the NHS Reinstatement Bill.  The marketisation of a service to deliver health and well being to our nation is both abhorrent and will see the backroom deals done in favour of profits rather than people.”

 

 

Douglas Chapman
SNP prospective parliamentary candidate,
Dunfermline and West Fife

“The SNP have voted in the current Parliament to prevent the back-door privatisation of the health service by supporting the National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill which would re-establish the Secretary of State’s legal duty to provide national health services in England. While responsibility for the NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, any cuts to NHS funding in England have knock on implications for the Scottish block grant and result in cuts to the Scottish budget.

The current Westminster agenda of austerity, privatisation and patient charging in the NHS in England threatens to harm Scotland’s budget, on which our NHS depends. SNP MPs elected in May would be prepared to vote for a bill which would restore the national health service in England to the accountable public service it was always meant to be.”

John Nicolson
SNP prospective parliamentary candidate,
East Dunbartonshire

“The NHS in Scotland is a national asset and the SNP is determined to prevent privatisation, which is proceeding apace in England. We regard the dismantling of NHS England as a potential threat to our own NHS because our funding is linked to English public expenditure, through the Barnett formula.

If elected as SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire, I will look forward to supporting a NHS Reinstatement Bill.”

 

Dr Lisa Cameron
SNP parliamentary candidate,
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

“I fully support the principles of the NHS Reinstatement Bill. 

“As a doctor in the Scottish NHS, I understand the effect which Westminster’s austerity economics is having on public services. As an SNP candidate, I fully support the premise that public services must be in public hands.  

“I would have no hesitation in voting to reintroduce a public NHS right across these islands in order to protect Scotland’s budget. With my experience in the NHS here in Scotland, I want to ensure we do not have any more cuts imposed on the Scottish budget – thus allowing the SNP Government here in Scotland to make our NHS healthier.”

Stewart McDonald
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Glasgow South

“I would be happy to support a bill which takes the NHS out of the hands of the private sector and restores it back to where it belongs; in public hands. This would undoubtedly help strengthen Scotland’s NHS, and if elected to the House of Commons then I would have a duty to do so.”

 

Roger Mullin
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

“Anyone with a genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, will support a Bill which would restore the National Health Service in England to its rightful role as an accountable public service.  Privatization of the Health sector in England has serious consequences for the funding of Scotland’s NHS.  If elected I am therefore committed to voting for this or any similar Bill.”

 

Ian Blackford
SNP parliamentary candidate,
Ross, Skye and Lochaber

“I am more than happy to support your campaign. I like my party believe that the NHS ought to remain a public service delivered by the public sector.”

 

 

Margaret Ferrier
SNP, parliamentary candidate,
Rutherglen and Hamilton West

“We should be very proud of the fact that we have had universal health care for over 65 years now, free at the point of need. The NHS has been one of the greatest achievements of government to date.