Ellee Seymour

Blair is certain to face a stormy week in Manchester where I hope Unison and others will continue to heckle and demonstrate fiercely in protest at the destruction of our NHS.

Of course, it will all fall on deaf ears, Blair only wants to hear what he wants to hear. Did he listen to doctors, nurses and NHS staff, as well as the electorate?

Do you remember the farcical Big Conversation? How much did that cost taxpayers? What difference did it make? Did anyone really want to hear?

Not according to Marc Tyner who tried unsuccessfully to post a comment on the Government’s web, and that critical comments were carefully vetted.

And someone reminded us that big conversations should take place over the ballot box; and surely our MPs are there to represent our views.

I wonder what angry and disappointed NHS Logistics staff make of Blair’s attempts to communicate with them as they stood in the pouring rain with their banners today protesting against privatisation. One striker on the local news had this message for the Government:

“This is the beginning of the end of the NHS”.

A GP told exactly the same to my friend – he warned her that privatisation would lead to the “annihilation” of the NHS within five years. Nobody wants it except Blair. But as far as he is concerned, it’s a one-sided conversation.

You can have another bash, if you wish, there is an opportunity to ask Patricia Hewitt about the future of our health service by contacting her here. Do let me know how you get on.

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I really feel for Rachel and other victims of the 7/7 bombings which shattered their lives. I feel their frustration at being fobbed off by a Government which simply states the obvious in its long-awaited report.

We’ve already been told about failings on the day, this latest report merely repeats what has already been said by the London Assembly. What was the point in producing a second similar document?

I assume that’s the end of it as far as answering questions are concerned, the Government have refused calls for a public inquiry, dealing with the reasons it happened in the first place.

Most shamefully, Tessa Jowell has failed to keep her promise and inform victims when this report would be published. Yet she describes how she met them and their heroism:

“I have been humbled by the courage and dignity of the bereaved families and those who survived the attacks. I am very grateful to them for sharing their experiences, and absolutely determined that we will apply the lessons learned so that we can do better in the future.”

Hollow, empty words when she can’t even keep a basic promise like this, what confidence can we have in their other pledges?

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