Trade union socialists have launched their General Election campaign in Labour’s east London heartland with a challenge over the NHS.
The TU Socialist Coalition’s Bethnal Green and Bow parliamentary candidate Glyn Robbins joined health service activists in Roman Road Market and outside Whitechapel’s Idea Store collecting petitions as part of a national day of action on Saturday.
‘There is no issue more important than the NHS,” Robbins said. “Heath care is being threatened in Tower Hamlets where we have resisted closure of GP surgeries.
“But some surgeries still face danger, such as Gill Street in Limehouse, because private companies’ role in the NHS is increasing.
He cited “the massively expensive private-funding” of the new Royal London Hospital complex in Whitechapel which is “in hoc” for the next 40 years.
The former Respect party activist is challenging Labour’s Rushanara Ali for the Bethnal Green seat on May 7, which local party pundits fear could split the Centre Left vote.
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