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Alex Salmond says Westminster a 'growing threat' to NHS Scottish independence: Peter Kilfoyle backs Yes vote
(about 11 hours later)
Scotland's first minister has said that only independence will lift the "growing threat" to the country's NHS. A former Labour government minister has endorsed Scottish independence.
Speaking before a speech in Liverpool, Alex Salmond said the coalition UK government was pursuing a "privatisation agenda". Peter Kilfoyle told BBC Scotland that it was vital for Scotland and the English regions to loosen London's grip on power.
Funding arrangements mean cuts in NHS budgets south of the border will also impact on Scotland, he said. The former Liverpool Walton MP was speaking ahead of a speech by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in the city.
Pro-UK campaigners accused Mr Salmond of resorting to "scaremongering and misinformation" over the NHS. Labour has argued that Scots should vote "No" and then help elect a Labour government in the UK general election.
Mr Kilfoyle suggested that the Labour leadership's opposition to independence was motivated by a desire to maintain Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster.
Backbench critic
He resigned from Tony Blair's government, where he had been a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence, in 2000, arguing that Labour was neglecting its roots.
He became a vocal backbench critic of the Labour leadership until standing down as an MP ahead of the 2010 general election.
Earlier this month, another former Labour minister - Leslie Huckfield, who represented the Nuneaton constituency at Westminster but now lives in Perthshire - also said he was backing a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
Mr Kilfoyle's endorsement was warmly welcomed by Mr Salmond, who is preparing to make his last speech in England before September's referendum on Scottish independence.
Ahead of the engagement, Mr Salmond argued that only independence could protect the Scottish NHS from the UK's government's "privatisation agenda".
In 2011, Mr Salmond told a Liverpool audience for the BBC's Question Time programme that they should not allow their NHS to be privatised by the Westminster parties.In 2011, Mr Salmond told a Liverpool audience for the BBC's Question Time programme that they should not allow their NHS to be privatised by the Westminster parties.
Speaking prior to his return to Liverpool, where he will deliver his last major speech in England before September's independence referendum, the first minister said the process of "privatisation and fragmentation" of the health service in recent years had been "driven through by Westminster". Speaking prior to his return to Liverpool, the first minister said the process of "privatisation and fragmentation" of the health service in recent years had been "driven through by Westminster".
The NHS is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but Mr Salmond argued that cuts to its budget south of the border impacted on Scotland too. The NHS is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but Mr Salmond argued that cuts to its budget south of the border also impacted on Scotland.
"Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with strong public finances," he said. "But, under the Westminster system, cuts to spending in England automatically trigger cuts in Scotland."Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with strong public finances," he said. "But, under the Westminster system, cuts to spending in England automatically trigger cuts in Scotland.
"So, if private money replaces public funding in England, our budget will also be slashed no matter what we want or need.""So, if private money replaces public funding in England, our budget will also be slashed no matter what we want or need."
'Progressive beacon''Progressive beacon'
Mr Salmond predicted that an independent Scotland would be a "progressive beacon" for people elsewhere in the UK who were looking for an alternative to Westminster policies.Mr Salmond predicted that an independent Scotland would be a "progressive beacon" for people elsewhere in the UK who were looking for an alternative to Westminster policies.
"By demonstrating that a publicly-funded, publicly-run NHS is more efficient and provides a better level of patient care than a privatised service, we will provide valuable evidence for those in England campaigning against the sell-off of their health service," he said.
"In March, the BMA annual consultants' conference condemned the 'huge amount' of taxpayers' money going to private company profits, rather than being used for patient care."
The first minister said that private providers have won the majority of tenders for service since the Health and Social Care Act came into effect in England.
And the independence referendum on 18 September will be a choice between "more Westminster-driven austerity or the opportunity for new prosperity", he added.And the independence referendum on 18 September will be a choice between "more Westminster-driven austerity or the opportunity for new prosperity", he added.
"The Tory-led coalition is determined to cut back the NHS and other public services because of right-wing ideological reasons. "The Tory-led coalition is determined to cut back the NHS and other public services because of right-wing ideological reasons", Mr Salmond said.
"It is proposing huge cuts which will reduce day-to-day public spending as a proportion of national income to its lowest level since 1948.""It is proposing huge cuts which will reduce day-to-day public spending as a proportion of national income to its lowest level since 1948."
Scottish Labour's health spokesman, Neil Findlay, claimed it was a "mark of how desperate the first minister has become" that he was "introducing the privatisation of the NHS as a campaign issue".Scottish Labour's health spokesman, Neil Findlay, claimed it was a "mark of how desperate the first minister has become" that he was "introducing the privatisation of the NHS as a campaign issue".
"Everyone knows it is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Tories can't get their hands on our hospitals and health centres," he said."Everyone knows it is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Tories can't get their hands on our hospitals and health centres," he said.
"The Yes campaign has failed to make the case for Scottish independence and has resorted to negative scaremongering and misinformation. The people of Scotland won't be fooled and neither will the people of Liverpool."The Yes campaign has failed to make the case for Scottish independence and has resorted to negative scaremongering and misinformation. The people of Scotland won't be fooled and neither will the people of Liverpool.
"We are more concerned about the SNP's running of our NHS, which Scotland's top doctor described as a 'car crash'. Properly resourcing our hard-working doctors and nurses should be their focus right now."We are more concerned about the SNP's running of our NHS, which Scotland's top doctor described as a 'car crash'. Properly resourcing our hard-working doctors and nurses should be their focus right now.
"The real threat to our NHS is a Yes vote and the billions of pounds in public spending cuts that will come to Scotland if Alex Salmond gets his way."The real threat to our NHS is a Yes vote and the billions of pounds in public spending cuts that will come to Scotland if Alex Salmond gets his way.
"Cuts to our schools and hospitals are not a price worth paying for Alex Salmond's dream of independence.""Cuts to our schools and hospitals are not a price worth paying for Alex Salmond's dream of independence."