TTIP: Government Will Not Exclude NHS From Free Trade Agreement

[Northerner]

The UK government has no plans to exclude the NHS, or any other public service, from the free trade agreement which is being negotiated between the EU and US.

Speaking to journalists today, Trade Minister Lord Livingston said the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would not have any impact on the NHS and, therefore, the UK negotiation team will not be pushing for its exclusion.

"The idea that this will lead to privatisation of the NHS is not true," Livingston said, adding that individual procurement groups will make decisions over whether to use US healthcare providers and that should TTIP come into effect, "the NHS will still look like it does today".

The statement serves to clarify the government's stance and comes despite pressure from trade unions and NGOs to veto the inclusion of public services in TTIP.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ttip-government-will-not-exclude-nhs-free-trade-agreement-1463454

The members of the 'UK negotiation team' should be made to take personal responsibility for any future costs incurred, maybe then they wouldn't be so confident in their assertions! 😡

 

[ypauly]

I read the "no part of the UK economy will be excluded" bit but then the more sinister tone of the already known or should I say unknown full extent of this deal is to be hidden as it ruins the EU negotiating position.

As the EU is full of large health companies our NHS will have to compete or die, we already know that, but what about schools, what about the BBC will anything be saved?

Oh yes of course it will, the political system along with generous pensions and expenses will continue unabated.