18 August 2009

Labour Party candidate Mike Robb spoke in support of the NHS today and called on Conservative Candidate Jim Ferguson to make clear where he stands.

Speaking in Inverness today, after meeting with Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray during his visit to the City, Mike said: "Labour established the NHS more than 60 years ago, in the face of deep opposition from the Conservatives and the medical establishment.

"Since then, it’s been one of our finest achievements as a nation and much envied around the world

"The Tories did their best to break it up during the Thatcher years, but the extra investment made by the Labour Government since 1997 has made sure that its always there for us all, when we need it.

"So the support shown by leading Conservatives for the attacks on the NHS by right-wing US politicians last week is deeply concerning.

" It’s only a few weeks since Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan was being praised by David Cameron.

"Now Mr Hannan says that our National Health Service was a "mistake" and that he "wouldn't wish it on anybody".

"The Conservatives need to disown him and his comments if people are to believe that the NHS will ever be safe in their hands. "

"Management and staff at Raigmore are working hard just now to deal with the problems caused by C.diff at the hospital and to get the much needed new Day Centre built as soon as possible.

"I will not stand by and see the NHS and its brilliant staff denigrated and undermined, whether that's by right wing politicians in the United States or by their friends in the UK Conservative Party."

"Here in Inverness, Jim Ferguson needs to make clear that he totally disowns the comments made by his Conservative Party colleagues and that he is committed to supporting the NHS and the key principle behind it – services free at the point of use, funded out of taxation."