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All hail the National Health Service – but not the EU All hail the National Health Service – but not the EU
(4 months later)
With the Sharif clan back in office in Pakistan and the Castros hanging on in Cuba it seemed appropriate on Monday that one of Britain's own landed dynasties should make a statesman's tilt at a great issue of our time.With the Sharif clan back in office in Pakistan and the Castros hanging on in Cuba it seemed appropriate on Monday that one of Britain's own landed dynasties should make a statesman's tilt at a great issue of our time.
Up to history's challenge stepped Nicholas Soames, through whose veins course the blood and brandy of his grandfather and wartime prime minister.Up to history's challenge stepped Nicholas Soames, through whose veins course the blood and brandy of his grandfather and wartime prime minister.
Admittedly Soames had decided to make his Churchillian oration during the NHS stage of the annual debate on the Queen's speech and to do so on the topical but tenuously connected subject of Europe.Admittedly Soames had decided to make his Churchillian oration during the NHS stage of the annual debate on the Queen's speech and to do so on the topical but tenuously connected subject of Europe.
But when destiny calls a Churchill the summons must be answered immediately, accompanied by a whisky and soda. In taking on the baying ranks of his own party Soames answered the call as grandpa so often did (sometimes wisely).But when destiny calls a Churchill the summons must be answered immediately, accompanied by a whisky and soda. In taking on the baying ranks of his own party Soames answered the call as grandpa so often did (sometimes wisely).
Up to that point the debate had been dire. The NHS's new cheerleader, Jeremy Hunt, made a complacent speech on the service's "heroic" performance in tough times, as incumbent health secretaries must. Then Labour's Andy Burnham warned how the arteries of our once-thriving hospitals are being clogged up by Tory policies, as ex-health secretaries usually do. Between the pair of them and eager supporters they blamed each other.Up to that point the debate had been dire. The NHS's new cheerleader, Jeremy Hunt, made a complacent speech on the service's "heroic" performance in tough times, as incumbent health secretaries must. Then Labour's Andy Burnham warned how the arteries of our once-thriving hospitals are being clogged up by Tory policies, as ex-health secretaries usually do. Between the pair of them and eager supporters they blamed each other.
But Europe kept barging its way into the conversation like a drunk in a pub. Labour's Frank Dobson complained that the Tories have opened the NHS to predatory US health firms via EU contract law, Thatcherite Tory Edward Leigh asked Burnham if he would grant the British people a referendum on Europe. "Mad obsessives," was the drift of Burnham's reply. What about the NHS?But Europe kept barging its way into the conversation like a drunk in a pub. Labour's Frank Dobson complained that the Tories have opened the NHS to predatory US health firms via EU contract law, Thatcherite Tory Edward Leigh asked Burnham if he would grant the British people a referendum on Europe. "Mad obsessives," was the drift of Burnham's reply. What about the NHS?
So Soames's magisterial intervention came like a burst of Chopin's First Ballade (Opus 23) during Britain's Got Talent, a tiger stalking the Battersea Dogs Home, an Eiger dumped on the gentle North Downs above his Mid-Sussex constituency.So Soames's magisterial intervention came like a burst of Chopin's First Ballade (Opus 23) during Britain's Got Talent, a tiger stalking the Battersea Dogs Home, an Eiger dumped on the gentle North Downs above his Mid-Sussex constituency.
He even boomed in the unapologetically posh way Etonians used to speak before rough trade like the Camerons were admitted and Estuary English became a GCSE subject.He even boomed in the unapologetically posh way Etonians used to speak before rough trade like the Camerons were admitted and Estuary English became a GCSE subject.
The thrust of Soames's pro-European remarks was that young Cameron had made a promise and that should be enough. His stated EU policy should certainly not be challenged by the "prejudice or pub rhetoric" of some Tory MPs – no names – or their "hysterical, kneejerk, publicity-seeking acts." He spoke of trust and the integrity of government, of a momentous decision affecting generations unborn.The thrust of Soames's pro-European remarks was that young Cameron had made a promise and that should be enough. His stated EU policy should certainly not be challenged by the "prejudice or pub rhetoric" of some Tory MPs – no names – or their "hysterical, kneejerk, publicity-seeking acts." He spoke of trust and the integrity of government, of a momentous decision affecting generations unborn.
It was magnificent stuff and, like many of grandpa's speeches in his wilderness years (1931-39), was received with thinly-populated indifference and a solitary "hear, hear."It was magnificent stuff and, like many of grandpa's speeches in his wilderness years (1931-39), was received with thinly-populated indifference and a solitary "hear, hear."
NHS buffs are immune to appeals to history further back than 1948 and Eurosceptics cherish the conceit that grandpa would have been on their side, along with Nigel Farage: for brandy and cigar, read pints.NHS buffs are immune to appeals to history further back than 1948 and Eurosceptics cherish the conceit that grandpa would have been on their side, along with Nigel Farage: for brandy and cigar, read pints.
But Soames's speech certainly raised the dreary tone. Two speeches later Labour's Ann Clywd silenced her chattering audience simply by reading letters sent by voters about poor nursing care of elderly parents.But Soames's speech certainly raised the dreary tone. Two speeches later Labour's Ann Clywd silenced her chattering audience simply by reading letters sent by voters about poor nursing care of elderly parents.
It was shameful. Hospital buzzer buttons and water glasses deliberately left out of reach, frightened old people left in pain or hunger while nurses chattered about their social life. A man saying goodbye to his father before the life support machine is turned off being asked: "Can we crack on now?"It was shameful. Hospital buzzer buttons and water glasses deliberately left out of reach, frightened old people left in pain or hunger while nurses chattered about their social life. A man saying goodbye to his father before the life support machine is turned off being asked: "Can we crack on now?"
Hunt and Burnham fell silent along with all the others. It was bad luck that the next speaker was Charles Walker, the self-styled "fruitcake" Tory brave enough to have once admitted to obsessive compulsive disorder.Hunt and Burnham fell silent along with all the others. It was bad luck that the next speaker was Charles Walker, the self-styled "fruitcake" Tory brave enough to have once admitted to obsessive compulsive disorder.
After genially praising Soames ("a great statesman") he confessed to personal Euroscepticism, then said: "I do want to crack on now." Watch out for the switch on that life support machine, Dave.After genially praising Soames ("a great statesman") he confessed to personal Euroscepticism, then said: "I do want to crack on now." Watch out for the switch on that life support machine, Dave.
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