JULIE Cooper, Labour’s candidate for Burnley and Padiham, has challenged local MP Gordon Birtwistle to back Labour’s new Bill to repeal the Coalition’s new competition rules that drive NHS privatisation.

Labour MP Clive Efford successfully introduced a Bill that will scrap David Cameron’s market framework for the NHS and make sure local NHS patients are put first. Julie Cooper has backed Labour’s new Bill as a way of protecting and saving our NHS, and has challenged local MP Gordon Birtwistle to do the same.

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She said: “The Coalition’s approach is to let private companies cherry-pick the most profitable NHS services, regardless of patient need, and spend more money on economic regulators and competition lawyers. I believe that the NHS should put patients before profits.

“Labour will rescue the NHS with our £2.5 billion Time to Care package which will fund new staff including 20,000 more nurses – investment the Tories will not match.

“I had no hesitation in backing this bill as it will make sure patients in Burnley and Padiham come first before profit. Every day I am out in Burnley and Padiham speaking to people on their doorsteps and they tell me that protecting the NHS is their top priority.

“Local people are relying on Gordon Birtwistle to do the right thing and back this bill so that we can put an end to market forces being put at the heart of the NHS. I was very disappointed that he did not turn up to vote on this very important issue last Friday.”

“He has always claimed to care a great deal about health services for the people of Burnley and Padiham so now I hope that he will seize the opportunity to act to ensure the government now listens to Parliament and acts to protect our NHS.”