Daniel Hannan, the newly famous Conservative MEP thinks that the NHS is a “sixty year mistake”. He says the NHS has made us iller. And he thinks that Gordon Brown is a “ninny”. That’s right, ninny. Oh, and Obama and Brown are “buddy buddy”.
Update: As well as John Prescott calling on David Cameron to respond to Hannan’s comments, Alan Johnson has now issued the following statement:
“David Cameron’s silence on this issue speaks volumes. He’s already dropped a commitment to match our spending on the NHS. Now he is refusing to take action against a senior Conservative who wants to stop spending on the NHS altogether.
“Daniel Hannan’s opposition to the whole concept of the NHS is a view that is shared by many in the Conservative Party.
“Instead of praising Daniel Hannan and rewarding him with a keynote speech at Conservative spring conference, David Cameron should be taking on the extremists in his ranks.
“Daniel Hannan told an American TV channel that our Doctors and Nurses made people “iller”. David Cameron should go on British TV and apologise to NHS staff for these ignorant and insulting remarks.”
Update2: From the Evening Standard “Mr Hannan last night refused to back down, saying: “People can see for themselves that Britain has become a place where foreigners fear to fall ill. Yes, all three parties are committed to the NHS: I am a humble backbencher, and speak only for myself. But I wonder whether, as on tax and borrowing, public opinion hasn’t overtaken the Westminster consensus.”
See also YouTube hit Hannan back to haunt the Tories
Update 3: Though Conservative bloggers and press briefers are now playing Hannan’s influence down, he’s been invited by Eric Pickles to give their keynote address at the Conservative Spring Conference.
Update 4: Oliver Kamm in the Times on Daniel Hannan’s silliness problem.
Update 5: Finnancial Times, A memo to the Tories.
Update 6: Kevin Maguire in the Mirror: ‘Either Mr Bullingdon Club’s frightened to slap down the Con poster boy or he secretly sympathises with him. Otherwise, Cameron would utter three more words: “You’re fired, Hannan.”‘
1. Major additional finance available for developing countries from agreement to create a one trillion dollar package from IMF, other IFIs and trade finance.
2. $50 billion for low income countries:
• New SDR allocation provides $19 billion and SDR 4th Amendment $2 billion
• Doubling access rights to IMF concessional resources using existing subsidy £4 billion.
• Doubling IMF concessional lending capacity through using IMF gold sales delivers an additional $6 billion.
• Additional MDB financing for private sector in LICs $6 billion.
• Support for IFC Trade Liquidity Pool including $12 billion in low income countries.
3. $100 billion additional lending from MDBs over the next three years for developing countries.
4. Commitment to the MDGs and to meeting ODA pledges (including those made at Gleneagles, on debt relief and Sub-Saharan Africa).
5. Agreement to establish a process on tax information exchange to ensure that all countries – not just rich countries – have access to tax information.
6. Commitment to reform IFIs including:
• Agreement on the need for emerging and low income countries to have greater voice and representation.
• Agreement that IFI Heads should be appointed through open, merit-based selection.
• Commitment to speed up voting reforms, and agree wider reforms to improve effectiveness, legitimacy and relevance of the World Bank.
7. Agreement to create a UN Global Vulnerability Alert to provide real-time information on the impacts on poor communities.
8. Support for the Vulnerability Framework and the Rapid Social Response Fund.
Last Thursday the Prime Minister visited the Brazilian Football Museum in Sao Paulo with Brazilian President Lula. They announced a ‘sporting co-operation’ between English and Brazilian football authorities, including the opportunity for English players to further their development in Brazil as well as referee training and technical assistance.
Earlier this afternoon, he found time to present President Lula a signed England shirt as part of our bid to win the 2018 World Cup. I’m told that David Beckham was delighted to play his part in supporting the bid. You can see that President Lula looked happy when he received his gift!
UPDATE: Just transcribed the message:
“Dear President Lula, In recognition of the friendship in football between england and brazil Best wishes, David Beckham”
