Hunt defeated: He withdraws plan to impose contract on junior doctors

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George Osborne has withdrawn his plan to cut tax credits.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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17 Comments

  1. thomassutcliffe November 30, 2015 at 7:45 pm - Reply

    And don’t forget the bullying/ sex scandal that has already seen Shapps/ Green/ Fox resign and may yet cause much bigger problems for them.

  2. mili68 November 30, 2015 at 7:47 pm - Reply

    Tweeted @melissacade68

  3. Mr.Angry November 30, 2015 at 7:52 pm - Reply

    Brilliant as I keep saying they are falling apart, let us see what’s next, hopefully their cruel welfare reforms. A good ruling in the high court this week let’s hope it snowballs.

    Someone high up must be leaning on them, rightly so lean a bit more.

    About time the Blairites within the Labour party stopped the infighting and grasped the opportunity to pull together and not miss these ideal opportunities.

  4. me November 30, 2015 at 8:07 pm - Reply

    like Osborne: it’s back to the drawing board…

  5. casalealex November 30, 2015 at 8:15 pm - Reply

    Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. First we get Giddy’s ‘U turn” on Tax Credits; then IDS ending Workfare; now HHunt withdrawing on docs contract….Are they trying to be the ‘good cops’ in order to get away with being the ‘bad war cops? just saying….

  6. Dez November 30, 2015 at 8:29 pm - Reply

    That Hunt is from the same pack of jackals that have no issue with lying, half truths and total lack of integrity. Like your report on Ossys Tax Credit where not so much a total capitulation but just allowing time for the creation of covert poison pills and getting their own way via the Universal Credit…when Herr Smith gets it working properly. I really wish I can believe that Hunt was defeated but he’s probably just slithered back under his rock to think up a Plan B to impress his Boss.

    • Mike Sivier December 1, 2015 at 4:25 am - Reply

      It seems you’re right. It’ll backfire on him, though.

  7. Michael Broadhurst November 30, 2015 at 8:45 pm - Reply

    good !! the more defeats this govt gets,the more they might realise they cant ride
    roughshod over people like they want to.
    make them realise they have only a wafer thin majority.Corbyn should be doing more to rip them apart in Parliament.
    the next big battle will be the Human Rights Act,we cant allow them to get away with that.

    • Mike Sivier December 1, 2015 at 4:24 am - Reply

      No, it’ll be air strikes in Syria.

  8. Red Tony November 30, 2015 at 9:00 pm - Reply

    He’s withdrawn the threat for as long as doctors suspend their strikes. So by your logic, the doctors have been defeated, utterly.

    • Mike Sivier December 1, 2015 at 4:18 am - Reply

      Don’t be daft.
      He’s now trying to spin this defeat to his advantage but make no mistake – he had to back down.
      In fact, he posted some real stupidity on Twitter yesterday evening that, if I were a doctor, would encourage me to reinstate the strike at once.
      More of that later…

  9. Roy Beiley November 30, 2015 at 9:32 pm - Reply

    The Junior Doctors are to be complimented on their United stand against the Dark Force of these Tories. Shows that organised labour can still win where it is necessary.

  10. NMac December 1, 2015 at 8:51 am - Reply

    Don’t underestimate the Nasty Party. They are a group of rotten, corrupt bullies, but even now I suspect they are planning further malicious measures targeting the people of Britain.

  11. andyuk December 1, 2015 at 9:10 am - Reply

    He’s acting like such a Jeremy hunt…

  12. mrmarcpc December 1, 2015 at 3:37 pm - Reply

    Pleased he too was humiliated by his arrogance, like a few others have been, high time it all started to crumble and come crashing down around them, have got away with everything they’ve conceived of for 5 years, it’s been long overdue for them being reigned in and hammered for their evil, vile schemes, time for their reign of terror to be over!

  13. James Winfield December 1, 2015 at 9:11 pm - Reply

    A ha ha ha dream on. The Tories were mostly against the tax credit cuts and that is why that was shelved.

    • Mike Sivier December 2, 2015 at 1:14 am - Reply

      Why do you say, “Dream on”? Hunt has retreated.

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