NHS is not for sale, says Lamont

Conservative MP John Lamont has defended his decision to vote against an amendment to a trade bill, which sought to protect the NHS from being privatised as part of any future foreign trade deal.
John Lamont MP.John Lamont MP.
John Lamont MP.

Along with fellow Borders Tory MP David Mundell, Mr Lamont helped ensure the amendment, which would have barred any trade deal which “undermines or restricts” the NHS was not passed on July 20.

Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale demanded an explanation, given that all parties claim they would not support trade deals which threatened the NHS at last year’s general election,

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Ms Grahame said: “The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how precious each of the four UK Health services are to those who use them, and it’s our duty as local politicians to do everything we can to ensure our NHS is protected.

”The SNP will always keep Scotland’s NHS safe in public hands.

“But while the Scottish Parliament has control of most aspects of health policy, we currently cannot stop Westminster governments from entering into trade deals that potentially put our NHS at a variety of risks.

“In the last few months, perhaps more than ever, our NHS has been there to care and protect us.

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“So it beggars belief that Mr Lamont and Mr Mundell have decided to turn their back on our NHS when it came protecting our health service from foreign privatisation.

“Voters will remember this, and they deserve an explanation.”

Mr Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, hit back, saying “the NHS is not on the table in any trade deal and never will be”.

He said: “The narrative surrounding the trade bill since the vote last week has been filled unfortunately with misinformation and a misunderstanding, driven by parties on the opposition benches.

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“The vote was designed to transfer agreements that already existed and ensure the UK can continue to benefit from them as we leave the European Union.

“It absolutely did not have anything to with new trade deals where opposition MPs stoke fears about the USA and the NHS.

“The prime minister and other ministers could not be more clear, the NHS is not on the table in any trade deal and never will be.

“That is something I am fully committed to backing.

“For the local businesses in the Borders that trade around the world, this Trade Bill was essential to allow them to continue to do that.

“The SNP MPs who voted against this Trade Bill were voting against local jobs in the Borders.”