Is it futile to hope the Tories will protect the socialist principles of the NHS?

38 Degrees members deliver a petition of over 410,000 names to the NHS. Their message: Save Our NHS

By Lucette Davies

Somebody recently commented on the fact that I have so often written about issues concerning the NHS on this blog.  They seemed a little surprised that I could feel so strongly about the rights and wrongs of various government policies regarding healthcare.  To me this in itself was surprising as we are all susceptible to ill health.  Disease does not discriminate between different political affiliations or different income brackets and nobody is immune.  So why on earth are more people not expressing their concern for our NHS  that is itself obviously in poor health?

Aneurin Bevan, a man who we now need to remember

By Lucette Davies

Politicians today are often accused of being self-interested.  This post is going to be a profile of Aneurin Bevan, Labour MP for Ebbw Vale and somebody whose work was defined by a commitment to social justice.  That  great champion of the socialist principles is somebody who should never be forgotten.  He spearheaded the introduction of the NHS in 1948 and  was committed to standing up for worker’s rights throughout his 31 years in parliament.  So, who was that great man and what was it that made him great?