SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 26/01/06

Labour joins with Tories & Lib Dems to vote down free prescriptions

Labour MSP’s from constituencies with some of the worst health records in the UK yesterday joined forces with Tories and Liberal Democrats to vote down a Scottish Socialist Party bill to abolish Scottish NHS prescription charges in a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
The Parliament voted 77 votes to 44 against accepting the basic principles of the bill, despite the fact that the Parliament’s Health Committee recommending that they be agreed.
The Abolition of NHS Prescription Charges (Scotland) Bill was supported by the SSP, Scottish National Party, Greens and independents.
One Labour MSP, Elaine Smith, voted in favour of the bill.
The Scottish Executive had been forced to announce a series of last minute concessions extending prescription charges exemptions after the huge support mobilised behind the campaign to abolish NHS prescription charges through the bill that had been lodged by SSP national convenor Colin Fox.

Colin today singled out the Labour MSP’s who represent areas of Scotland with chronic poverty and health problems and their role in attacking the very core principles of the NHS; that it should be free at the point of need.

Colin said;
“So now we know, Labour MSP’s are happy for their constituents to continue to be taxed for being sick.
“During the debate we had the incredible sight of Labour MSP’s representing constituencies with some of the worst health records in the UK, and indeed in Europe, dismissing the core principle of the NHS, that it should be free at the point of need, as “fantasy politics”.
“The Labour Party of Aneurin Bevan has now been completely destroyed by careerists and charlatans who follow the politics of Thatcherism and not socialism.
“Labour MSP Frank McAveety represents Glasgow Shettleston in some areas of which life expectancy for men is 53.9 years, 10 years less than that of India, and yet he was at the front of Labour attacks on the principle of a free health service.
“The reality is that the Queen gets free prescriptions while people on disability living allowance do not. Some 30 members of this Parliament get free prescriptions but people on incapacity benefit do not. J K Rowling, as a new mum, gets free prescriptions, but a low-paid woman worker in the Scottish Parliament must pay in full.
“Irrespective of the vote, we have won the argument; support in the country for the abolition of this despised tax on the sick is absolutely overwhelming.”
[ends]

Press Association: "MSPs reject free prescriptions

MSPs have thrown out plans to scrap NHS prescription charges in Scotland on the same day ministers proposed new reforms to the system.

A Socialist Bill to abolish the £6.50 fee was defeated in Parliament after the Executive floated changes which could see more people becoming exempt from paying for their medicines...

The Socialists' Bill, earlier endorsed by Holyrood's cross-party Health Committee, was backed by the SNP and the Greens, as well as Labour rebel Elaine Smith. But it was defeated at its first parliamentary hurdle by 77 votes to 40.

The Executive's reforms, proposed in a consultation, included extending the prescription charge exemption to a greater number of people on low incomes, reforming the existing arrangements for patients who require frequent prescriptions and widening concessions for full-time students and trainees.

But Mr Fox criticised the consultation as 'vague', adding: 'This Bill has been in front of this Parliament for nearly two-and-a-half years, yet the Scottish Executive waits until just three hours before this debate to come forward with proposals.'

Mr Fox said the high ideals of the NHS to give equal access to healthcare had been compromised by the charges.

He added: 'The reality is the Queen gets free prescriptions while people on disability allowances do not, 30 members of this Parliament get free prescriptions but people on incapacity benefit do not, JK Rowling gets free prescriptions as a new mum but a low paid woman working in the Scottish Parliament must pay in full.'"

The Herald: "If it's broke, fix it. That would be a useful adage to apply to the prescription charge regime in Scotland. It is outdated, anomalous, unfair and crying out for reform. MSPs had the chance yesterday to do something bold about it when the bill promoted by Colin Fox, the Scottish Socialist Party leader, to abolish these charges came before the Scottish Parliament. In the event, they voted by a large majority (77 to 40 with one abstention) against the really radical solution. "

BBC NEWS: "John McAllion, who has been confirmed as the Scottish Socialist Party candidate, said he would be contacting trades unionists in an attempt to start a boycott of the company.

'Thousands of people in the region will suffer because of Lexmark's drive to increase their profits,' he said.

'We are going to hit Lexmark where it hurts; in the balance sheets.

'I am calling on the people of Scotland to rally to the side of the Lexmark workers and boycott the company's products.'"

Evening News:

FORMER Labour MP John McAllion today threw his hat into the ring to contest the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election as the Scottish Socialist candidate.

Mr McAllion was a Westminster Labour MP from 1987 until 2001, holding key posts in Labour's Scottish Shadow Cabinet, including front-bench spokesman for Constitutional Affairs, Health and Housing.

He said: 'I believe the tradition of challenging inequality, resisting social injustice and standing up for working people is now represented by the SSP.'"