Richard Madeley’s ignorance builds support for striking junior doctors
No sooner did the junior doctors go on strike – their longest yet, lasting six days – than ITV Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley started insulting them.
Fortunately, Ash Sarkar was there to put him straight (alongside Susanna Reid, in fairness):
Richard Madeley… "Junior doctors are in effect apprentices".
No. They are fully qualified doctors. #juniordoctors pic.twitter.com/FAm8cetomA— Jude 🇪🇺 (@jude5456) January 3, 2024
But the damage was done – to Madeley.
You see, we already had this debate when still-new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins tried to suggest that junior doctors were “doctors in training”. They’re nothing of the sort; these are fully-qualified medical practitioners.
And it didn’t take long for the backlash to begin:
Dear Mr Madeley
Junior doctors are not ‘apprentices’.
Signed
A Nation— Ern (@Ern400) January 3, 2024
Richard Madeley is what you get when you put a senile old ignoramus gammon in front of a microphone. Junior doctors are not apprentices you ridiculous clowns #GMB
— Des Ecksmakina 🇫🇷 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 (@Broken_Politiks) January 3, 2024
Still Madeley did a lot of good to the junior doctors’ cause by insulting them:
NHS doctors are striking for all of us.
Because the only way patients can be kept safe is for there to be adequate staffing.
This requires adequate pay to retain enough doctors so that those shouldering the burden do not get overwhelmed and burn out.
— Marcus Chown (@marcuschown) January 3, 2024
💚 The Green Party stands firmly with all junior doctors striking for fair pay and working conditions and to protect patient safety.#JuniorDoctors | #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/s7hYijz2kg
— The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) January 3, 2024
… and to anybody else, including who did not.
— Michele 🍉 G (@Giaguarama) January 3, 2024
I support Junior Doctors 100% @BMA_JuniorDocs
To be a Doctor
Get a Medical Degree 5 yrs
Foundation training 2 yrs
Specialist training 4-10 yrsStarting salary £28,274
To be an MP
6 weeks door knocking
6 weeks Baby KissingStarting salary £86,584#JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/DVd9yi1tFH
— Jerry Hicks (@JerryHicksUnite) January 3, 2024
Junior doctors didn’t waste billions of taxpayers’ money on dodgy contracts.
Junior doctors didn’t sell off our health service.
Junior doctors didn’t cause record-high waiting lists.
The Tories created this crisis. Solidarity with junior doctors striking to save our NHS.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 3, 2024
And striking junior doctors are building support for themselves in surprising ways – like this:
https://twitter.com/JerryHicksUnite/status/
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Ah food snacher of again hasn’t he learned about living in a glasshouse.