Do not be misled – Jeremy Hunt’s agreement to withdraw his plan to impose a cruel new contract on junior doctors is an admission that he has been defeated, utterly.
Of course, operations and outpatients’ appointments have been disrupted by the Health Secretary’s stubbornness, but it seems likely that a more healthy situation could arise from today’s announcement.
But what does this mean for the Conservative Government?
George Osborne has withdrawn his plan to cut tax credits.
Jeremy Hunt has been defeated by the junior doctors.
And David Cameron cannot scrape together a Parliamentary majority for his warmongering.
And the media are still saying Labour is in crisis?
A strike by junior doctors planned for Tuesday could yet be called off after four days of talks produced what Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, called “a potential agreement” with their union.
If the British Medical Association (BMA) agrees to the deal and calls off Tuesday’s walkout, the health secretary would lift his threat to impose a new contract, which has sparked huge anger and protests among England’s 45,000 junior doctors.
As things stand, Tuesday’s strike, which has led to many planned operations and outpatient clinics being cancelled, is still due to go ahead. But it could be suspended if the BMA accepts Hunt’s offer.
Source: Doctors’ strike: Jeremy Hunt announces ‘potential agreement’ with BMA | Politics | The Guardian
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