Labour feels strongly on the NHS – you can tell that by the number of times Keir Starmer brings up the NHS during Prime Minister’s questions, which he did again today. Historically, the NHS has always been a weak point for the Conservatives. In spite of granting the health service ever more resources, come election time Labour automatically trots out the charge that the Tories are out to privatise or otherwise dismantle the NHS.
But has Starmer made a miscalculation in attacking the government’s proposed strike laws, which would oblige the unions to ensure that minimum service levels are maintained in the ambulance service, as well as several other public services, on strike days? Such a law would end the situation present in today’s ambulance strike, where crews in many parts of the country are refusing to attend even category 2 emergencies – which include, for example, heart attacks and strokes.
Defending unions in withdrawing emergency ambulance cover is quite another matter
The Conservative 2019 manifesto promised a law ensuring minimum service levels only in transport strikes.
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