The Members financial
interests represent every stage of the healthcare value chain from advisors to
private equity firms funding the private healthcare companies, to having shares
in those same companies.
They are Chairman of estate companies involved in PFI deals, partners in legal firms that make those deals, advisors to private hospitals, they represent companies in pharmaceutical media, medical equipment, care homes, lobbying, and insurance. You name it, they have it covered and the list of vested interests in both the Commons and the Lords is so great, that it can best be described as a healthcare coup d’état of our parliamentary institutions.
These parliamentarians coupled with the 142 Lords
with the same interests, make a total of 206 parliamentarians
with financial links to companies involved in healthcare.
All of these public servants were allowed to vote on the Health and Social Care bill, helping it pass into Act.
All of these public servants were allowed to vote on the Health and Social Care bill, helping it pass into Act.
Recent released research by the Bureau of Investigative
Journalism has revealed 124 members
of the House of Lords ‘benefit’ from the financial industry.
Several of these Peers are linked to the Healthcare
companies and many of these companies will be funding the private healthcare companies
that threaten the very existence of the NHS.
The House of Lords is an open house for companies to attach themselves to key public servants, lobbying and influencing policy that affects our lives.
The House of Lords is an open house for companies to attach themselves to key public servants, lobbying and influencing policy that affects our lives.
An
e-petition has been set up which is here - http://epetitions.direct.gov. uk/petitions/44971
- if you can please sign it to stop Lords voting on their own interests, this
would go some way to make this behaviour less easy.
This list has recently been checked and is up-to-date as of Feb 2013
MPs
Conservatives:
1. David Cameron: Nursing and care home tycoon Dolar
Popat has given the Conservatives £209,000. The Ugandan-born dad-of-three has
amassed an estimated £42million fortune as founder and chief of TLC Group,
which provides services for the elderly. Mr Cameron made the businessman a
peer shortly after entering No10 in May 2010, and Lord Popat’s donations
include a £25,000 gift registered a week after the Tories’ health reforms were
unveiled last July.
2. Andrew Lansley: Architect of the Health
and Social Care bill - John Nash, the chairman of Care UK, gave £21,000 to fund
Andrew Lansley’s personal office in November 2009. In a recent interview, a
senior director of the firm said that 96 per cent of Care UK’s business, which
amounted to more than £400 million last year, came from the NHS. - Hedge fund
boss John Nash is one of the major Conservative donors with close ties to the
healthcare industry.
He
and wife Caroline gave £203,500 to the party over the past five years. The
“hedgie” is also a founder of City firm Sovereign Capital, which runs a string
of private healthcare firms. Fellow founder Ryan Robson is another major Tory
donor who has given the party £252,429.45. His donations included £50,000 to be
a member of the party’s “Leader’s Group”, a secretive cash-for-access club. The
would-be MP, who tried but failed to get selected as the election candidate in
Bracknell, is managing partner at Sovereign Capital. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/01/19/nhs-reform-leaves-tory-backers-with-links-to-private-healthcare-firms-set-for-bonanza-115875-22859373/
In
2008 Andrew Lansley received a donation from Julian Schild used to support his
office in his capacity as Shadow secretary for health. Julian Schild’s family
made £184million in 2006 by selling hospital bed-makers Huntleigh Technology.
Andrew
Lansley’s wife, Sally Low, is founder and managing director of Low Associates
(“We make the link between the public and private sectors”). A Daily Telegraph report
in February records that the Low Associates website lists pharmaceuticals
companies SmithKline Beecham, Unilever and P&G among its clients. It also
records Ms Low’s assertion that the company “does not work with any client who
has interests in the health sector”. The website currently contains no
reference to the drug firms listed above. http://www.channel4.com/news/andrew-lansleys-nhs-plans-still-in-good-health
Circle
the ambitious private healthcare firm run and owned by clinicians, has
recruited a former aide to health secretary Andrew Lansley as head of
communications. Christina Lineen spent two years working for Lansley, who
became health secretary after the general election. The company’s income is
derived from private patients, either on insurance schemes or paying for
themselves, but it also treats NHS patients. - http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/private-healthcare-firm-circle-recruits-ex-lansley-aide-to-head-comms/2/?tx_ttnews
Lansley
was a paid director of the marketing agency Profero, who had Diageo Guiness as
one of their clients. He gave up the director ship in 2009. In 2008, a senior
NHS executive appearing in a commons committee, accused Daigeo of flouting
voluntary agreements on responsible drinking labelling. In 2010 Lansley invited
fast food companies and Diageo in for discussions on how to tackle obseity, and
binge drinking. In 2011 Diageo were given responsibility to pay for training to
offer advice on the dangers of alcohol. No, you couldn't make it up.
3. Harriet Baldwin: Conservative MP for
West Worcestershire. Former managing director of JP Morgan Asset
Management. JP Morgan is a major player in healthcare. According to
their website they serve: 1,100 hospitals,
10 of the top 10 health insurers, thousands of physicians groups, top five
pharmacy benefit managers, six of the top eight pharmacy retailers.
4. Gregory Barker: MP for Bexhill and Battle.
In 2008 held shares in HR company Penna plc. In February, HFMA and Penna plc
partnered to deliver HR services to the NHS - Was
an operating advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisors, LP, a private equity firm
with health companies in their portfolio. Had shares in Quester VCT 5 plc a
venture Capital with multiple investments in healthcare companies.
5. Jake Berry: MP for Rossendale and
Darwen. Has registered interests in Top legal 500 firm Squire, Sanders &
Dempsey (UK) LLP, as a consultant advising on client services, business
development and on other specific matters. They work with multiple NHS trusts and local authorities regarding PFI and PPP programs.
6. Simon Burns: Chelmsford MP - attended an
oncology conference paid for by Aventis Pharma - a five-day trip to the US
funded by a leading drug firm.
7. Nick de Bois: MP for Enfield North - De
Bois is the majority shareholder in Rapier Design Group, an events management
company heavily involved with the private medical and pharmaceutical
industries, and whose clients include leading names such as AstraZeneca. The company was
established by the Tory MP in 1998. Last year it had a turnover of £13m. Last
April, Rapier Design purchased Hampton Medical Conferences to “strengthen the
company’s position in the medical sector”. It is involved in running
conferences and other events for private-sector clients, and for NHS
hospitals.
A
number of the company’s clients are “partners” of the National Association of
Primary Care (NAPC), a lobby group supporting the health secretary’s plans.
Rapier Design Group’s biggest clients stand to profit when the NHS is opened up
to wider private-sector involvement. The GP commissioning consortium for
south-west Kent, covering 49 GP practices and known as Salveo, has already
signed a contract with the pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca aimed at improving
diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/29/lansley-ally-shareholding-lobby-firm
8. Graham Brady: MP for Altrincham and Sale Former advisor on marketing and business strategy to PA Consulting, a management consultancy company. PA Consulting have worked with the new Clinical Commissioning Groups. Other NHS involvement includes, training, helping commissioners in North-East London, performance management. The company is not without criticism having lost a memory stick containing details of thousands of convicted people.
9. Andrew Bridgen: MP for North West Leicestershire - Non-executive chairman of fresh vegetable distributor company AB produce PLC. The company is listed on the NHS supply chain. In June 2011, Mr Bridgen claimed critics of the NHS reforms were made up of 'Stalinist protectionist elements.'
10. Steve Brine – Mp for Winchester – According to the electoral register, received £14,999 in three separate payments £5,000 19/01/2011, £4,999 17/04/2012, £5,000 22/03/2013 from Mr James R Lupton who was appointed Conservative party Co-Treasurer in February this year, has also given £350,000 to Conservative central party in last three years. He is Chairman of investment bankers, Greenhill Europe, who have considerable transaction experience and a global network of corporate relationships in the Healthcare sector.
11. Aidan Burley: MP for Cannock Chase:
Received six bottles of wine from Hitachi consultants for a short speech he
gave to a group of consultants on 11th March 2011. Hitachi Consulting UK
is a leading government consulting company with an 18-year track record in the
UK. They have extensive knowledge of the public sector, and many of their
consultants have experience in the NHS. In 2010, they announced the completion of
a delivery portal for Commissioning support for London (CSL). The creation of
the new secure online portal provides National Health Service (NHS) commissioners
with access to a set of tools to help them monitor how their providers are
performing. This is another example of private company benefitting from the
privatisation reforms of the NHS.
12.
12.
They have multiple
fee-paying public consultancy clients in healthcare.
13. David Davis: MP for Haltemprice and
Howden: Received a payment of £4,250 for a 6hr speaking engagement for
Civica. (Registered 14 February 2012) Civica supplies software and IT solutions to over 250 NHS trusts
in the UK. More than 70 NHS Commissioners use Civica Health &
Social Care's industry standard SLAM NHS Commissioning software to help
manage service level agreements with providers, including Payment by Results,
local tariffs, local agreements, block payments and other variants.
14. Jonathan Djanogly: MP for
Huntingdon - His office received payment of £1,900 on 01/11/2001 and declared
it on 30/01/2002 from Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd, 310-312 Dallow Road, Luton. The
company manufactures medical, orthopedic equipment and instruments for
measuring and is part of Huntleigh International Holdings Limited of the same
address. They are a member of the Getinge Group, a Swedish based group of
companies who are split between Healthcare and Life sciences. The acquisition
of Huntleigh by Getinge took place in 2007. In 2008, he had shares in private
healthcare company Medicsight, and private health insurance Aviva PLC. In 2008
had shares in WPP Group, a marketing giant in healthcare.
15. Iain Duncan-Smith: MP for Chingford and
Woodford Green. Has shares in hygiene technology company Byotrol plc, though no
dividend received, which sells products to the NHS.
16. Philip Dunne: MP for Ludlow. In 2008 was a
non-executive director for investment Baronsmead VCT 4 plc, and has
shareholdings in the company, which according to its second-half 2011 report, has multiple
investments in private healthcare companies including Vectura Group plc, Alere
Inc, who work with many PCTs including the 'healthcheck
programme,' and Tristel plc, a leading provider of infection control
products into the NHS. Healthcare & Education make up 9% of investments.
17. Michael Fallon:
MP for Sevenoaks – Former Director of Attendo AB - 2008 to 2013 – a Swedish private health
company offering care and social care. The register of interests show, he
receives an annual fee of £13,954.88 net, for approximately 20hrs
work. Bridgepoint the private equity firm which acquired Care UK, whose
chairman John Nash bankrolled Andrew Lansley’s office just prior to the
takeover, has also invested in Attendo AB.
Will they get contracts in the UK if the bill? Judging by this list of scandals, lets hope not.
18. Mark Field: MP
for Cities of London and Westminster. Board Advisor to Ellwood and
Atfield; a specialist recruitment firm in the public affairs and communications
sector. They recruit for NHS positions as well as private healthcare. The
MPs role includes, amongst other things includes; ‘introducing the company to
opportunities.’ Company recruits for some public affairs positions in
the NHS. In addition they are currently seeking an
interim government affairs Officer, healthcare. The job involves working
with ‘Government, regulators and other stakeholders to help promote and
influence the healthcare industry within the UK.’
The
press release announcing Mark Field's appointment as advisor said: ‘His
experience, coupled with his political position, perfectly complements Ellwood
& Atfield and reinforces the company’s position as the leading recruitment
firm within communications and public affairs.’
On
their public affairs page of their website they
state: ‘With a careful, appropriate engagement strategy your organisation can
thrive by shaping the political environment. Our network of contacts and relationships
across this community in London, Brussels and Washington DC is unrivaled and we
recruit more professionals in this area than any other firm in Europe.’
19. Liam Fox – Conservative MP – became shadow health secretary in 1999 – employed Adam Werrity as a paid intern in 2004 – by this time Adam Werrity becomes a director of health consultancy firm ‘UK Health Ltd’ (now dissolved), while Liam Fox was shadow health secretary of which he and Liam Fox were shareholders. Werrity owned 11.5% of UK Health Group and Fox owned 2.3%. In 2005 a researcher based in Mr Fox’s office worked ‘exclusively’ for the now closed Atlantic Bridge ‘charity’, which Liam Fox was the founding member; Mr Werrity became director, and which had links to radical right-wing neocons in the U.S. The researcher received funding from Pfizer Inc. He claimed ‘she has no function in any health role.’ The researcher was Gabby Bertin, who is now David Cameron's press secretary.
19. Liam Fox – Conservative MP – became shadow health secretary in 1999 – employed Adam Werrity as a paid intern in 2004 – by this time Adam Werrity becomes a director of health consultancy firm ‘UK Health Ltd’ (now dissolved), while Liam Fox was shadow health secretary of which he and Liam Fox were shareholders. Werrity owned 11.5% of UK Health Group and Fox owned 2.3%. In 2005 a researcher based in Mr Fox’s office worked ‘exclusively’ for the now closed Atlantic Bridge ‘charity’, which Liam Fox was the founding member; Mr Werrity became director, and which had links to radical right-wing neocons in the U.S. The researcher received funding from Pfizer Inc. He claimed ‘she has no function in any health role.’ The researcher was Gabby Bertin, who is now David Cameron's press secretary.
20. George Freeman:
MP for Mid Norfolk. His own business: http://www.4d-biomedical.com/
which is a specialist adviser on Healthcare markets, Technology development,
Business strategy & Venture financing, working with NHS trusts. Speaking in
Parliament on 11 November 2010 during the Policy For Growth debate he said,
"The third is the national health service. I know from my own experience
that we are sitting on billions of pounds-worth of patient data. Let us think
about how we can unlock the value of those data around the world." See
Hansard at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101111/debtext/101111-0003.htm
21.
Mike Freer: MP for Finchley and Golders Green:
Provides strategic marketing advice for Care Matters, a
financial planning company for care, which includes in care homes.
22.
Richard Fuller: MP for Bedford: Worked for L.E.K
consulting from 1984 and intermittently until 2007. L.E.K consultancy
specialises in helping private healthcare companies identify "growth and
new business development" and "opportunities with the
government". Chairman of Enterprise Care Group Ltd. Listed as social work
without accommodation. Appears in staff nurse for
jobs for nurses.
23. Richard Graham: Gloucester - His constituency office received received £3,000 from Circle investor, Mr Robin Crispin Odey on 03/12/2007. Richard Graham was elected MP for Gloucester at the last general election and like Odey has previously worked for Barings bank, which went bust in 1995. In total Odey has donated £222,000 to the Conservative party.
23. Richard Graham: Gloucester - His constituency office received received £3,000 from Circle investor, Mr Robin Crispin Odey on 03/12/2007. Richard Graham was elected MP for Gloucester at the last general election and like Odey has previously worked for Barings bank, which went bust in 1995. In total Odey has donated £222,000 to the Conservative party.
24. Dominic Grieve: MP for Beaconsfield: In 2008. Shares in Reckitt Benckiser (See Lord Boswell), GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo (See Andrew Lansley), Astrazeneca, Standard Chartered (Health insurance.)
25. William Hague: In 2008,
William Hague was a non-executive director of IT company AMT-SYBEX, a position
now held my Lord Coe. AMT-SYBEX is an IT supplier to the NHS. Former London
Mayoral candidate Steven Norris is their chairman who sits on the Transport for
London board.
26. Philip Hammond: Is
a beneficiary of a trust who owns a controlling interest in healthcare and
nursing home developer Castlemead Ltd. In
2008 he had shares in the company, of which he was a director from 1993-1995.
The Castlemead website states: 'By building partnerships with GPs and PCTs
we are able to offer a range of design and procurement solutions in particular
via the 3PD (Third Party Developer) route...Castlemead has an excellent
reputation for working with the NHS and as a long term investor in the sector,
endeavours to build a positive working partnership with all stakeholders in a
project.’
27. Mark Harper: Forest of dean: Electoral commission records show his constituency office received £5,000 on 09/02/2010 from Circle investor Mr Robin Crispin Odey just 3 months before the general election.
27. Mark Harper: Forest of dean: Electoral commission records show his constituency office received £5,000 on 09/02/2010 from Circle investor Mr Robin Crispin Odey just 3 months before the general election.
28. Nick Herbert - MP for Arundel & South Downs - Received donations from Caroline Nash - Ms Nash is the wife of John Nash who also funded Lansley's office when he was shadow health minister. He was Chairman of Care UK at the time. The donations were £15,000 in 2008 and in 2009. Electoral Commission.Jeremy Hunt: MP for South-West Surrey. Received a donation to his office of £3,000 in June 2012, just under 3 months from when he was mafe health secretary, from U.S-based hedge fund CEO Andrew Law. Mr Law is the CEO of Caxton Associates who as of November 2001, owned a market value of $217.659 million in healthcare. Andrew Law has given £231,530 to the Conservative party, all but £3,000 of this in 2012. Electoral Commission
29. Margot James: MP for Stourbridge:
Co-founded public relations company, Shire Health Group. The company was sold
to business partner Ogilvy & Mather
for £4 million in 2004, with the Conservative MP Margot James appointed Head of
European Healthcare for marketing parent WPP Group. She stood down from WPP in 2008. WPP are a
marketing giant with a massive list of healthcare clients. One of their
companies, ‘Grey Healthcare Group, boasts having 14 of the top 15
pharmaceutical companies as their clients.
Quote: 'GPs, nurses and
patients need now to combine forces and ensure that the resistance to change
they will encounter does not limit the improvements in care that are made
possible by the Bill.' This quote is taken from an article written by Margot James for
Huffington Post titled: Tackling Vested Interests in the NHS. She failed to
mention her former role as head of European Healthcare for marketing for
WPP. ‘I keep saying ‘we’, but I’m not really part of the industry
anymore, but I still feel it.’ - when speaking at a conference hosted by
Healthcare Communications Association.'
She
has spoken at Big Pharma conferences since the 2010
election, saying that “the pharmaceutical industry remained very important to
her and has a very special place in her heart”.
31. Jo Johnson: Orpington. According to the electoral Commission - the brother of Boris Johnson received £6,000 on the 19th July 2010, to his constituency office from Robin Crispin Odey an investor in circle who run Hitchingbrooke hospital.
30. Sajid Javid:
(New) Conservative MP for Bromsgrove – Received £11,000 from Moundsley Healthcare Ltd
registered
on May 29th 2013. Electoral
Commission
Moundsley Healthcare Ltd run Moundsley Care Village Ltd,
which is a nursing and residential care home.
31. Jo Johnson: Orpington. According to the electoral Commission - the brother of Boris Johnson received £6,000 on the 19th July 2010, to his constituency office from Robin Crispin Odey an investor in circle who run Hitchingbrooke hospital.
32. Kwarsi
Kwateng:
Worked for Odey Asset Management hedge fund as an analyst who invest in Circle
health who run the Hitchingbrooke hospital. The hedge fund is run by Robin Crispin
William Odey who has donated to the Conservative party since 2007. Mr Kwateng received
£10,000 from Odey Asset Management on 12th September 2011 for consultancy
work for political advice to asset managers, which included ‘domestic affairs’.
Register of interests
33. Mark Lancaster: MP Milton Keynes North – Non-Executive
director Management consultant giving advice on strategy and
business to property venture capital company Palmer Capital Partners Ltd.
Palmer capital have funded Danescroft Commercial Developments Limited.
Danescroft’s main areas of operations are the Midlands and South of England,
focusing on office and mixed use development and more specialist sectors such
as local/district centres and healthcare. (Resigned 4 September 2012) but received a donation of £4,000 from Palmer Capita, which was registered in 13th March, 2013.
34. Dr Phillip Lee MP for Bracknell - Paid in a capacity as a freelance Doctor for Medical Solutions Ltd, who provide medical cover for events, including blood & Organ transport, ambulances, life boat crew and mobile treatment centres.
34. Dr Phillip Lee MP for Bracknell - Paid in a capacity as a freelance Doctor for Medical Solutions Ltd, who provide medical cover for events, including blood & Organ transport, ambulances, life boat crew and mobile treatment centres.
35. Oliver Letwin: MP for West Dorset - in
2008, was a non-executive director of N.M. Rothschild Corporate Finance Ltd up
until 2009. Rothschild Group are one of the world's largest investment
companies and which invest heavily in healthcare. In 1986 he followed
Redwood to the merchant bank N.M. Rothschild & Sons,
succeeding him as head of the firm's International Privatisation Unit. [5] He was a director of N.M. Rothschild & Sons
from 1991 to 2003 and a non-executive director from 2005 to 2009.
36. Peter Lilley:
Hitchin and Harpenden MP, Non-Executive Director of management software and
systems company Idox plc. Idox provides local authorities with software &
managed services, including the NHS Health Libraries Group, NHS Education for
Scotland. TfPL part of the Idox Group, is a recruitment, training and
consulting company, whose clients include NHS
and private healthcare.
37. Tim Loughton: MP for East Worthing and
Shoreham has shares in JP Morgan who are major players in healthcare. According
to their website they
serve: 1,100 hospitals, 10 of the top 10 health insurers, thousands of
physicians groups, top five pharmacy benefit managers, six of the top eight
pharmacy retailers.
38. Mary Macleod: MP for Brentford and
Isleworth was previously a senior executive at Andersen Consulting/Accenture specialising in Banking and
financial services as a senior executive. Accenture has gained from PFI
contracts.
39. Francis Maude: MP for Horsham – was a
director of Huntsworth plc in May 2005, a PR consulting company run by Lord
Chadlington, and which has funded the Conservative party since 2008. Huntsworth
plc are a group of companies, one of which is called Huntsworth Health, who are
part of a lobbying group Healthcare Communications Association, who comprise of
Communication groups involved in health and pharmaceutical
companies. Francis Maude was the person fronted by Cameron in response to
Peter Cruddas’s announcement that ‘premier league’ sums of £250,000 will get
you access to David Cameron and affect policy change. Mr Maude stated the
pronouncements were: "embarrassing and wrong, and not true…That's not
the way we do business and raise money, and we're very clear about that."
Yet, they do receive money from Huntsworth, a company he was a director of,
that is run by a Lord who is the constituency chairman of David Cameron. None
of this was highlighted by the mainstream press as he defended Peter
Cruddas. Maude was also a non-executive director of Incepta Group plc from
March 1st 2004. During this time, in April 2005, there was an
announcement of a proposed merger between Incepta and Huntsworth. The Office
for Fair Trading decided it would not be referred to the
Competition Commission under section 33(1) of the Act. The merger went ahead
and Mr Maude became a director of Huntsworth.
Maude
was Non-executive chairman of advertising group ‘The mission Marketing Group’.
One of their agencies, Bray Leino Vivactis was also established as Healthcare
sector specialists and a new expert team was created via a firm co-operation
with the mainland European Healthcare Group, Vivactis.
Another
company Maude was a non-executive director of, is a web management software
provider called, Mediasurface, whose product Morello CMS is used by Astrazeneca
and the NHS. The company was acquired by content management solutions,
Alterian, in 2008.
40. Patrick Mercer: MP for Newark. Advisor to
Premier Composites Ltd, who design and build 'healthcare pods' for some private
healthcare buildings, including a care home in Scotland and a mental health
lodge in Preston.
41. Maria Miller: MP for Basingstoke. Former
director of Grey's Advertising Ltd, an advertising and
brand company who work extensively with clients in the healthcare sector.
Former director of the Rowland Group, which became Publicis Consultants, who
are also a marketing company working extensively with private healthcare.
42. Andrew Mitchell: MP for Sutton Coldfield.
In 2008 was a Senior Strategy Adviser to Global management and technology
company, Accenture, who have worked extensively with private healthcare
companies and the NHS. Pulled out of failed NHS I.T. programme, and gained form
PFI contracts. In 2008 was a director of Financial Advisory and Asset
Management company Lazard & Co, who work in the Healthcare and life
sciences sector. Andrew Mitchell who is, the
International Development Secretary, invested funds in a network of privately
owned firms, which is now at the centre of a tax avoidance case.
43. Penny Mordaunt:
MP for Portsmouth North. Became an Associate for Hannover Communications in 2009, who provide services across the
spectrum of corporate communications, media relations and public affairs for
businesses and public sector bodies. The company work in healthcare and states:
‘So whether you are seeking to shape the policy and operating environment,
defend or reposition your organisation, or drive sales and uptake for your
products and services - hanover can help you discover new ways to achieve
success.’
The press release said: 'Penny Mordaunt, joined hanover as an Associate
to work on a range of healthcare clients delivering public affairs and
corporate communications programmes. Key clients include sanofi-aventis,
Schering Plough and HEART UK, where Penny will be providing senior strategic
counsel.' She supported the Health and Social
Care bill.
44. Brooks Newmark:
Braintree MP: Provides research and advice on investment opportunities in
the UK and Europe to Apollo Management LP, both independently and through
Telesis Management Ltd. The former are a private equity company, which invests
in the healthcare industries.
45. Jesse Norman: MP for Hereford and South
Herefordshire. Received payment given to charity for speaking at a Quiller
event. Quiller Consultancy. Quiller
lobbyist George Bridges, friend to George Osborne and Cameron’s former election
campaign manager, as well as Theresa May’s ex-chief of staff, and an
ex-strategist for the Chief Medical Officer. Quiller lobbies for among others,
Capita, the enormous outsourcing firm which has its eye on running NHS Direct,
and a private equity firm heavily invested in health. Quiller is owned by
Huntsworth Group who are owned by Lord Chadlington. According to the Electoral Commission, Mr Norman received £5,000 on 30th June 2009 from Circle healthcare investor Crispin Odey to his local Hereford constituency.
46. Stephen O’Brien: Eddisbury MP: Stephen
O’Brien’s office received three payments totalling £40,000 from Julian Schild.
Mr Schild’s family made £184million in 2006 by selling hospital bed-makers
Huntleigh Technology. Mr O’Brien was moved to International Development after
the election.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/01/19/nhs-reform-leaves-tory-backers-with-links-to-private-healthcare-firms-set-for-bonanza-115875-22859373/ -
In addition to this, Mr Julian Schild, of London, has provided financial
support for research purposes, particularly in relation to an inquiry which Mr
O'Brien was conducting on behalf of the Conservative Party into the NHS IT
programme. (Registered 19 May 2008) - The MP for Eddisbury claimed
the report of his links to the money donated by Schild was nothing more than a smear campaign as the details had been in
the register of interests for ages. This attitude that registering your
interests is enough and that the interests in themselves are not a problem is
common.
47. George Osborne: MP for Tatton. Received
donation through Conservative Campaign Headquarters to run his office from
Julian Schild. Julian Schild’s family made £184million in 2006 by selling
hospital bed-makers Huntleigh Technology. A
key figure in the Tory's strategy team has also come from the lobbying world.
George Bridges, who now works closely with George Osborne, used to be employed
by Quiller, which keeps its list of clients secret. Quiller is owned by Huntsworth, a
public relations firm headed by Lord Chadlington, president of David Cameron's
Oxfordshire constituency of Witney.
In 2008 received support for developing policy from The Boston
Consulting Group who work extensively in healthcare - their website states: 'BCG’s deep experience in
the health care industry extends to having a sector dedicated specifically to
payers and providers. Our collaborative network of professionals allows us to
share relevant expertise that can benefit organizations involved in the
financing, management, and delivery of health care services.'
In
April 2011, the Boston Consultancy Group produced a press release announcing the appointment
of Dr. Graham Rich as Director of Health Services stating: ‘We are delighted
that Graham is joining us as we continue to expand our team and range of advisory
services to the NHS.’ The press release also highlighted the appointment
of former labour party secretary of state for Work and Pensions, James Purnell.
Further support in policy development came from accountancy firm, Smith
and Williamson, who do accounts in all sectors including Medical
and healthcare. Additional policy development came from accountants Grant
Thornton, whose website states: 'Within the public
sector, we advise at all levels of the UK healthcare system from central
government to regulators and providers, as well as clients in the social care
sector.'
In
addition PricewaterhouseCoopers, which claims to
have “been at the heart of shaping [healthcare] reforms and working with
clients to respond to the opportunities they present”, are also listed as
offering assistance in developing policy. PwC lead an alliance to aid the
setup and support for the new GP commissioning groups.
48. Richard Ottaway: MP for Croydon
South. 9-11 July 2007, visit to the USA to attend seminars and meetings
with elected US officials and policy forums. His return flight and
accommodation were financed by Atlantic Bridge and registered 4 years late
on 20th October 2011. His reasoning for the late registration: “I
have no idea why this was not done in 2007 after the visit.' 'It very much
falls into the ‘cock up’ category of human error.' 'It was a low key, short
visit 4 years ago when I was an opposition backbencher. Meetings were held with
members of the Republican Administration and some policy forums. I have very
little precise recall of the visit.' Atlantic Bridge is a former charity
founded by Liam Fox, who made a speech to Atlantic Bridge in 2003 asked: “How Much Health Care Can
We Afford?” Members of the Galen Institute, a thinktank which promotes
“freemarket ideas in health”, attended its conferences while the failed bank
Lehman Brothers, sponsored at least one event, as did the powerful neocon
thinktank the Heritage Foundation. (Guardian).
49. Priti Patel: MP for Witham In 2000,
worked for drinks company Diageo (See Andrew Lansley), before joining Weber
Shandwick, becoming a director
of public affairs. Weber Shandwick was created and built by Lord
Chadlington and has a specialist healthcare focus with companies including
Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, and Roche, and also the NHS.
Quote: Just as history shows that Nye Bevan introduced the
legislation to establish the NHS, it will show that this Secretary of State,
through the Bill, has saved it for the patients who rely on it.
50. JacobRees-Mogg: MP
for North-East Somerset: Partner of Somerset Capital Management LLP, who have
Redwood Emerging Markets Dividend Income Fund as a client, which invests in Healthcare. MP for North-East Somerset,
has shares in Lloyd George Management Ltd; investment management, who invest in Healthcare.
According to the electoral Commission, he received
£2,000 to his constituency office on the 14th April, 2010 from Mr Robin
Crispin Odey, a hedge funder who has invested in Circle healthcare.
51. John Redwood: Wokingham: Chairman of Investment Committee of Evercore Pan-Asset Capital Management Ltd. Evercore are involved in huge healthcare deals, and has shares in the company. In 2008, he gave speech at a working lunch to Gerson Lehrman Group, who provide access to a global network of more than 55,000 experts from across the entire healthcare industry including physicians, researchers, scientists, and healthcare industry executives.
51. John Redwood: Wokingham: Chairman of Investment Committee of Evercore Pan-Asset Capital Management Ltd. Evercore are involved in huge healthcare deals, and has shares in the company. In 2008, he gave speech at a working lunch to Gerson Lehrman Group, who provide access to a global network of more than 55,000 experts from across the entire healthcare industry including physicians, researchers, scientists, and healthcare industry executives.
52. Malcolm Rifkind: MP
for Kensington. Member of Advisory Board, L.E.K. Consulting LL, which
specialises in helping private healthcare
companies identify "growth and new business development" and
"opportunities with the government". Non-executive director of
Unilever, Unilever Ventures joined with a company called Vectura to form a
pharma arm to their company.
Non-Executive
Director of Adam Smith International;
which has described the NHS
as a "centralized tax-funded monopoly". Instead it argues that the UK
should "shift the balance of healthcare spending away from tax and more to
the individual." At the same time, it says "we need to transform
today’s state monopoly providers into independent, competitive ones" - ie
private for-profit healthcare providers. In addition they have produced a
couple of reports on the promotion of dismantling the NHS called: The NHS need for radical reform,
From cradle to grave: The death of the NHS?,
and Good sense on the NHS.
Included under this registered interest, were Amphion Ltd, which has partner companies involved in
healthcare including Firestar software,
M2M, & Motfi BioSciences, Inc.
53. Amber Rudd was selected for Hastings and Rye in 2006 and she moved to the old town in 2007. In 2008, her office received £3,000 from Andrew Law. Mr Law is the CEO of Caxton Associates who as of November 2001, owned a market value of $217.659 million in healthcare. Andrew Law has given £231,530 to the Conservative party, all but £3,000 of this in 2012.
53. Amber Rudd was selected for Hastings and Rye in 2006 and she moved to the old town in 2007. In 2008, her office received £3,000 from Andrew Law. Mr Law is the CEO of Caxton Associates who as of November 2001, owned a market value of $217.659 million in healthcare. Andrew Law has given £231,530 to the Conservative party, all but £3,000 of this in 2012.
54. David Ruffley: MP for Bury St
Edmunds is a strategic advisor to Partnership Group Holdings Limited. Through
it’s website,
it offers residential care fee insurance, stating: ‘While
the state can help with some costs, eligibility for help is limited and many
people find themselves over the threshold for support so it is important to be
aware of financial options available to you.’
The
company are a subsidiary of PAG Holdings Limited, which is majority owned by
Cinven Funds. According to its 2010 annual report, they initiated a
direct sales channel for care annuities, as well as ‘provide competitive loans
to people with impaired lives.’ On its website it states: ‘Cinven has been
involved in European healthcare over a 20-year period and invests in
market-leading, cash-generative companies.’ Cinven is a leading buyout firm,
who bought 25 private hospitals from Bupa. Other UK investments include. Spire
Healthcare, who run private healthcare hospitals, and whose clinical director Jean-Jacques de Gorter
said the use of private sector would spiral as a result of Andrew Lansley’s
reform proposals. General healthcare group, which runs healthcare services, and
whose group includes: BMI healthcare. The other company is Générale de Santé
who is France’s leading healthcare provider.Mr
Ruffley also received a £10,000 donation from Caroline Nash in 2009 -
Ms Nash is the wife of John Nash who also funded Lansley's office when
he was shadow health minister. He was Chairman of Care UK at the time.
Now Care UK have won contracts in his constituency.
55. Mark Simmonds: MP for Boston and Skegness.
As a shadow health minister, accepted a trip to the United States to look at
hospitals there from Bupa UK. Mr Simmonds missed out on a ministerial job in
the government. Mark Simmonds, who was a minister when the controversial
reforms were drawn up, is paid £50,000 a year to work just 10 hours a month as
“strategic adviser” to Circle Health, the first firm to win control of an NHS
hospital: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/10/26/tory-mp-cashing-in-on-nhs-break-up-with-second-job-at-health-firm-115875-23515038/#ixzz1dJFD7uKw - Mark Simmonds accepted a US trip to
Boston worth £4,982 from private health provider BUPA.
Mark
is currently a member of the All Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) acting as a co-chair to Baroness
Cumberlege.
56. Chris Skidmore:
Conservative MP for Kingswood who sits on the Health Select Committee received
a payment of £3,500 for 4 hours work - giving speeches to STAC
Consultancy http://www.stac-consultancy.com/ which specialises in the launch of
pharmaceutical products, strategic branding and medical education.
Chris Skidmore's family also owns a company called Skidmore
Medical http://www.skidmoremedical.com/,
which appears to be solely selling a physiologic Vascular testing equipment.
The company made a donation to him of £7,500 in June 2010 which also appears
on register of members interests.
Quotes on the bill: ‘For me I feel the bill is a very positive thing.’ "One of the best bits about the Bill for me was the element of Any Qualified Provider" http://www.parliament.uk/education/newsletter/central-lobby-current-newsletter/chris-skidmore-nhs-future/
For
more on Mr Skidmore and his attendance of an ‘Should we abolish the NHS event’,
see here.
57. Nicholas Soames: MP Mid Sussex: Senior
Adviser, to MMC Group; Marsh & McLennan an insurance financial services
company. In a review for
the Department of Health of the NHS litigation Authority - written by Marsh
Inc, it recommended involving opening up clinical negligence cover over to
private insurers. Zurich Financial Insurers said they didn't have the expertise
but the Marsh review envisaged opening up a dialogue which
might eventually give them the information they needed. The DoH unsurprisingly
accepted the large majority of Marsh's recommendations.
According to the electoral Commission, he received £2,000 on 11th May 2010, from Crispin Odey who is an investor of Circle Health.
Senior
Advisor on Strategic Issues to Intrepid Capital Partners – their website
states: ‘We seek companies with revenue of $15-250 million and operating profit
of at least 10%’...in amongst other sectors...healthcare.
58. John Stanley: MP for
Tonbridge and Malling: Consultant on financial services to investment company,
FIL Investment Management Ltd, who invest in healthcare.
59. Andrew Tyrie: MP
for Chichester. In 2008 attended the Ryder cup in his capacity as 'Secretary of
the Parliamentary Golf Society.' His travel and accommodation was paid for by
U.S. healthcare services company Humana Europe. Humana started UK
operation in 2006, in response to the framework for procuring external support
for commissioners. Won two contracts with NHS Barnsley, and NHS East of
England. Pulled out of UK.
60. David Willetts: MP for Havant and the
Minister of State for Universities and Science. Former director in 2008, and
has shares in Sensortec a company that owns
Vantix which is working on a contract for a new product that can quickly detect
MRSI. The contract is a Small Business Research Initiative - SBRI contract which provides opportunities
for innovative companies to engage with the public sector for specific
problems. in 1993 when Baroness Bottomley as Secretary for Health wanted
to privatise wards and hospitals. Willetts
supported the move, saying: 'private companies will want to change NHS labour
practices, and not want to negotiate with Labour practices.
61. Rob Wilson: MP for Reading East - In
2010, the MP for Reading East had registered shares in Vital Imaging, a private
screening company. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/01/19/nhs-reform-leaves-tory-backers-with-links-to-private-healthcare-firms-set-for-bonanza-115875-22859373/
62. Tim Yeo: MP
for South Suffolk. In 2008 attended the Ryder cup.
His travel and accommodation was paid for by U.S. healthcare services company
Humana Europe. (See Andrew Tyrie)
63. Nadhim Zahawi:
MP for Stratford-on-Avon. Is a non-executive director of recruitment company
SThree, who specialise in the
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology sector.
On the 4th April 2011 on a debate on the NHS
‘reforms’, When health secretary Andrew Lansley announced a pause in the Health
and Social Care Bill, Zahawi reassured him that GPs were “absolutely
passionate” about the reforms and described the plans as a “brilliant piece of
legislation”.
Quotes on the bill: in full is: ‘Nadhim Zahawi
(Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): I congratulate my
right hon. Friend on engaging and listening. We have all received the 50 or so
e-mail circulars from constituents who are concerned, but that does not reflect
the evidence on the ground. GPs in Shipston in my constituency are absolutely
passionate about the reforms and want to engage fully with them, as do 220
other groups-87% of the country. May I make a suggestion to the Secretary of
State? Perhaps we should bring all those people who are passionate about this
reform and want to take party politics out of it together with Labour Members
on a platform so that we can take this forward without petty politics derailing
a brilliant piece of legislation.
Liberal
Democrats:
1. Menzies Campbell: North East Fife:
Non-executive director of Scottish American Investment Company plc since 2007.
The investment company took over one of the care homes when
Southern Cross collapsed. His spokeswoman
said: "It is Sir Menzies' understanding that negotiations for another care
provider to take over the running of the care home in question are at an
advanced stage. Sir Menzies has no further comment to make." Approximately
4.5% of the investment company's equity is in
healthcare.
2. Chris Huhne:
Former Eastleigh MP: In 2008 private equity company, Carrousel Capital of London
donated to his leadership campaign. Carrousel Capital have made multiple acquisitions in healthcare
companies including: Axium healthcare pharmacy, MedData, Sotaria Imaging
Services, Brasseler USA. Left in because when the Health bill was passed, he was in a position to vote.
4. Robert Smith: Liberal Democratic MP for
West Aberdeenshire and KIncardine - Has shares in pharmaceutical company
GlaxoSmithKline. Shares in Legal and General, which offers medical insurance.
GSK
is the UK's leading supplier of COPD medicines, supplies the NHS. Has shares in
Legal and general, which offer private health insurance.
Labour:
1. Rosie Cooper: MP for West Lancashire -
Paid by Cumberlege Connections for £300 for work with a focus group of health
professionals. Company run by Tory Lord Baroness Cumberlege who broke the rules with this company in
2009, by failing to declare it in her registered interests, ran the business
from her Westminster office. The company offers courses in power, politics and
persuasion to leading staff in the NHS. Five Labour Lords, and several MPs have
been paid for providing for her courses. The company is involved in bidding for
the transition development of the new Clinical Commissioning Groups.
2. Simon Danczuk: MP for Rochdale - Fees from Cumberlege Connections Ltd,
(See Rosie Cooper). Received fee of £300 for speaking at Fringe meeting of NHS
Alliance Conference. Hours: 1.5 hrs (Registered 8 August 2012) March 2012 ,
received fee of £300 for speaking at Westminster Experience training workshop.
Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 8 August 2012) June 2012, received fee of £300 for
speaking at Westminster Experience training workshop. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered
8 August 2012) 11 September 2012, received fee of £300 for speaking at
Westminster Experience training workshop. Hours: 1.5 hrs. Non-Executive
Director, providing business advice for Shine-Bid Services Ltd – Company
provides support for bids which include the areas of healthcare procurement and
PFI.
3. Alistair Darling: MP for Edinburgh
South-West: 7 April 2011, He received a fee of £10,200 for addressing a
dinner organised by Cinven, London. Hours: approx 6 hrs. On its website it
states: ‘Cinven has been involved in European healthcare over a 20-year period
and invests in market-leading, cash-generative companies.’
Cinven
is a leading buyout firm, who bought 25 private hospitals from Bupa. Other UK
investments include. Spire Healthcare, who run private healthcare hospitals,
and whose clinical director Jean-Jacques de Gorter
said the use of private sector would spiral as a result of Andrew Lansley’s
reform proposals. General healthcare group, which runs healthcare services, and
whose group includes: BMI healthcare. The other company is Générale de Santé
who are France’s leading healthcare provider.
Patricia
Hewitt (see below) was an advisor to Cinven.
4. Frank Dobson: MP for Holborn and St
Pancras: Received payment from Cumberlege Connections: (See Rosie Cooper)
5. Frank Field –
MP for Birkenhead: Is a non-executive director of Medicash Health Benefits Ltd
a private health insurance company – he was appointed Chairman of the board on
20th of June 2011. Frank
Field has worked with Medicash for 8 years having first been appointed as a
non-executive director in 2003. The
register of interests says his role is to ‘attend meetings offer advice.’ For
this work he receives a monthly payment of £1,030, which according to the
Medicash website will be given directly to local charities. What’s the problem
with this? Private health insurance companies are set to profit from a
privatised NHS.
6. David Lammy:
MP for Tottenham: Received several payments from Cumberlege Connenctions for
participating in 'Westminster Experience' conference: (See Rosie Cooper). January
2011, received fee of £229.70 for participating in the King’s Fund ‘High
Potential Executive’ Programme. King’s Fund are a charity that ‘shapes NHS policy and practice, provides NHS
leadership development and information, and hosts health care events.’
7. Owen Smith: MP for
Pontypridd. A former UK lobbyist for the
American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, where he was head of government affairs
from 2005-2007. Director of Corporate Affairs and Health Economics for the UK’s
biggest biotechnology company Amgen Ltd from 2008–09.
8. Gisela Suart: MP for Birmingham,
Egbaston - Speaking at seminars for Cumberlege Connections. (See
Rosie Cooper). Her Cumberlege Connections work includes: Payment of £350 for
taking part in workshop. Hours: 2 hrs. Payment of £900 for taking part in
workshop in Winchester. Payment of £1,900 for NHS leadership programme. Hours:
2 days. (Registered 6 April 2012). Payment of £300 for parliamentary programme
workshop. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 6 April 2012.
9. Shaun Woodward: Shares in J Sainsbury PLC.
Sainsbury run pharmacies and provide food for the NHS
Other
parties:
1. Dr Alasdair McDonnell: MP for Belfast
South for Social Democrat and Labour party – has shares in Medevol, a small
clinical trials company.
Ex
MPs:
Charles
Clarke - Former
Labour MP for Norwich South - Promoted charging for 'peripheral treatments'. In 2008
register of interests was listed as a consultant to commercial firm Beachcroft
LLP, which offers incisive analysis on the full range of government,
parliamentary and regulatory matters in the health sector. In 2008, was
registered as a consultant to KPMG LLP, on the future of public service reform.
KPMG are heavily involved in implementing changes in the NHS and its commissioning groups.
David
Heathcoat-Amory -
Former Conservative MP for Wells and a former Treasury minister, registered a
payment of “£1,671.08 and health benefit to the value of £86.17” in July from
Western Provident Association, which provides private medical insurance
policies. The MP defended his work as a non-executive director for the
firm, which pays him around £20,000 a year, saying: “The insight I receive from
that helps me during health-related debates in Parliament and being part of the
world of work and commerce helps me in scrutinising other parliamentary bills.”
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6143256/Tory-MP-David-Heathcoat-Amorys-private-health-link-revealed.html
Patricia
Hewitt,
left commons - is a former director of Andersen Consulting (now Accenture -
which has gained from PFI contracts - Former Labour Health Secretary Patricia
Hewitt has been an advisor to Cinven; http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=2382 - took a
consultancy with Alliance Boots seven months after standing down and a £55,000
role with Cinven, which bought 25 private hospitals from Bupa - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/17/labour-ministers-consultancy-private-sector
Alan
Milburn,
has left commons - then Health Secretary for the Labour party, was a consultant
for Alliance Medical’s parent company. Alliance Medical runs diagnostic
services for the NHS, including in Birmingham[15] and Falkirk.[16] UNISON
reported that services were giving patients sub-optimal care, losing the NHS
money because of below-capacity uptake, and pressurising hospitals into using
private sector treatments - http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=2382 -
In 2008 his registered interests highlight: Member of Lloydspharmacy's
Healthcare Advisory panel paid in the region of £30,000. Also in 2008, a member
of the European Advisory Board of Bridgepoint Capital Limited, the private
equity firm which acquired Care UK, whose chairman John Nash bankrolled Andrew
Lansley’s office just prior to the takeover. David Miliband - MP for South Shields -
received £10,000 from McKinsey and Co for a speech at a Global Business Leaders
Summit in February last year. Also received a sum of £10,044 from the same
company for travel expenses and accommodation in Singapore in March 2011.
McKinsey & Co drew up loads of proposals that were accepted into the Health
and Social Care bill. Senior Global Advisor to Oxford Analytica a business
strategy company who have worked with healthcare giant GE healthcare.
Mark
Lloyd Davies -
Conservative failed candidate a French pharmaceutical company gave a job to
this prospective Bristol South Tory http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/notw/news/696096/Tories-paid-an-unhealthy-sum-Quiz-over-MPs-private-firm-links-Health-Ministers.html - According
to the Conservative website: "Mark is the UK head of the pharmaceutical
government affairs and communications team in the world's largest healthcare
company [Sanofi-Aventis], so he's already familiar with the workings of
Westminster."
Helen
Whately
-
Former Conservative parliamentary candidate.
Has shrugged off any suggestion
of a conflict of interest, after it emerged she works for the same consultants helping draw up plans which could see
the A+E or maternity unit at Kingston Hospital removed.
Her website states
she works as a management consultant specialising in healthcare, mainly in the
NHS but does not mention her employer McKinsey.
Robert Key – former MP for Salisbury – stepped down before the last
election due to health reasons - 2-3 September 2002, panellist at Executive
Brief 2002 at Gleneagles Hotel. Travel and hospitality paid by the organisers,
AMT-SYBEX of Letchworth. AMT-Sybex Group, is IT supplier to the NHS. Lord Coe is now a
Director of AMT-Sybex Group ensuring parliamentary access.
MEP:
Ashley Fox Conservative; was an Associate at Morgan Cole until 2009. As a
Conservative party member he fought the Parliamentary seat of Bath at the 2001
General Election. He has been the Councillor for Westbury-on-Trym on Bristol
City council since 2002. After leaving Morgan Cole he was elected as a
Conservative MEP to the European Parliament in June 2009 and was appointed
Chief Whip of the ECR in December 2010. Morgan Cole are a partner in an
alliance of companies developing the new GP commissioning groups led by KPMG.
This makes interesting reading - have your read this? http://daniellegreetham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/2007-destruction-of-heart.html
ReplyDeleteYou missed Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, the husband of Baroness Bottomley. I believe she sits on the Supervisory Board of Bupa.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Baroness Bottomley is in the Lords list and as a husband it isn't a direct link to a company which is what the above list represents.
DeleteThis is dynamite isn't it? If even 10% is true surely the government should act - o - oh no!-....!
ReplyDeleteIt's only dynamite if the mainstream media publish it or the public decide enough is enough. This list is part of a wider list of over 200 parliamentarians with recent past and present financial connections to companies involved in healthcare. The research was through the register of interests which is available to the public on the parliament website. This list is all thoroughly researched correct as of May 2012.
Deletehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=133269213517274&set=a.133269203517275.1073741827.100005025877016&type=3&theater
ReplyDeleteI cant believe i've not heard this before or i would have signed the petition. Why is this not top news ?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_MPs_and_Lords_Voting_For_Their_Own_Interests/?fSGuHab&pv=8
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that we need a petition against this. However, there is also already a government one. I doubt that either petition will have any success, however, even if they both get a million signatures each, because, as this report shows, all three political parties have their fat fingers well and truly stuffed in the pie of private medical companies. Anyway, the link to the parliamentary petition is here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44971
DeleteAlistair Darling was also paid for speeches to Pru Health, Apollo Hospitals and Aberdeen Asset Management NHS Procurement in the past year. Source. They Work For You.
ReplyDelete28. Jo Johnson: Orpington. According to the electoral Commission - the son of Boris Johnson received £6,000 on the 19th July 2010, to his constituency office from Robin Crispin Odey an investor in circle who run Hitchingbrooke hospital.
ReplyDeleteJo son of Boris?
Yep.
DeleteBut the point is Jo is Boris Johnson's brother.
DeleteAh yes - thanks...have corrected it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete29. Mark Lancaster: MP Milton Keynes North – Non-Executive director Management consultant giving advice on strategy and business to property venture capital company Palmer Capital Partners Ltd. Palmer capital have funded Danescroft Commercial Developments Limited. Danescroft’s main areas of operations are the Midlands and South of England, focusing on office and mixed use development and more specialist sectors such as local/district centres and healthcare.
ReplyDelete(Resigned 4 September 2012)
Thanks for the look out - much appreciated.
DeleteJust seen that he received a donation from his former company this year, which has been now added.
DeletePlease note: the petition linked in this article is out of date. There is one currently at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44971
ReplyDeleteThanks - I have changed it now. I think that covers all the relevant pages now.
DeleteIn Ludlow some of us have tried hard to understand the drive that our local MP has put into securing a replacement 'health facility' for our valued local hospital which has continued to receive positive reports from the CQC - perhaps we can now begin to have some understanding.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very similar to what happens in American politics. If you look at any US representative opposed to healthcare reform, you'll see a huge number are financed by, or have money invested in, pharmaceutical companies.
ReplyDeleteSo many of Cameron's policies are similar to the worst Republican ideas, he's an American in all but accent!