Dennis Skinner tells Jeremy Hunt to ‘Wipe that smirk off his face’ over junior doctors’ strike
One quick addition: When Hunt said a trade union should not “veto” a manifesto promise the British people want, he was correct. But that’s not what is happening here.
Firstly, only a minority of the British electorate voted for the Conservative Party – less than a quarter – so it is vastly overstating the case to suggest that the British people voted for the manifesto promise he mentions.
Second, what was the promise, exactly? It was to provide a seven-day-a-week NHS by 2020. Doctors striking now won’t “veto” that promise. In fact, negotiating with the doctors is likely to make that outcome more likely.
But Jeremy Hunt won’t get what he wants by smirking while he lies to us all about what he is doing.
https://youtu.be/7oiNGaTOcPA
Jeremy Hunt has been accused of “reveling” in taking on junior doctors ahead of a planned two-day NHS strike rather than seeking a solution.
Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner told the health secretary he had a “smirk and arrogance” about him that “almost betrays the fact that he is delighted” in the conflict.
Speaking in the Commons, Skinner said Hunt should restart talks today to resolve the dispute and “wipe that smirk off his face” and “get down to some serious negotiations”.
“He comes in here to try and blame the Opposition for what’s taking place. This strike can only be caused by two sides. One are the junior hospital doctors and the other side is the government.
“He is almost giving the impression that he is reveling in standing up to the junior hospital doctors. Start negotiating now and sort the matter out.”
Hunt used his appearance in the Commons to appeal directly to junior doctors not to take strike action that will see them stop offering emergency care for the first time ever.
“No trade union has a right to veto a manifesto promise voted for by the British people,” he said.
Source: Dennis Skinner Tells Jeremy Hunt To ‘Wipe That Smirk Off Your Face’ Over Junior Doctors Strike
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
how many people who voted in the last election know what was in the tory manifesto? Is there any tories who read this have the courage to admit they read the manifesto and still support them and Hunts blatantly sexist contract for junior Doctors. ? if not are you too cowardly to respond and justify your support for the tory party.
this scum of a govt dont half try to twist words dont they ?
why is it that, when in govt the selfservatives ALWAYS have pick a fight with someone,
and victimise a section of the community,in this case the fight with the junior doctors and victimising the sick,disabled and unemployed.
in the witch’s case it was the miners and manufacturing industry.
selfservatives are no good for this country. out out out with the lying,thieving,murdering lot of them.
I don’t like this government at all but; is it right that innocent patients should suffer when it was not their fault?
You’re absolutely right, and I hope you have written to Jeremy Hunt, demanding to know why he is inflicting this suffering on innocent patients by unreasonably refusing to negotiate with the BMA.
Patients will suffer under a privatised NHS, (if they can afford to be patients,) and that is what Hunt wants, a privatised NHS.
hunt will never win that you can be assured of
you cant rough ride educated people wherever they are in the world
they will just leave the country simple as that and good luck to them
Hunt wants them to strike so he can justify privatizing the NHS.
Brilliant, Denis. But why doesn’t somebody tell mispronounced to get a decent hair cut instead of trying ape Tin Tin.
“The Seven Day Week”:
I was ten when NHS began, and I do not recall NHS only working a five day week. Were patients sent home for the weekend? Did ambulances not respond to emergencies cos staff ‘rested’ at weekends? Were women plugged to stop giving birth? Did operations stop midway at 5.00pm Fridays? The mind just boggles at how this stupid bloke can even put his name to this statement.
Intransigent Jeremy *unt is the personification of the ruthless and warped ideology of Tory megalomaniacs.
If the conservatives made a manifesto commitment, then it is up to them to carry it out. If that requires the agreement of the NHS staff then it is incumbent upon the conservative government to make sure they are offering terms and conditions of employment that ensure they have sufficient staff to meet the requirements of fulfilling their manifesto commitment. It was the conservatives who made the commitment, not the junior doctors.
This scumbag of a government has really made a right mess of everything but what else would you expect from a tory government, common sense?!
CHunt has made a balls up of this from the start and will end it in a mess too unless he’s removed for this situation is only going to get worse!