Fit persons? @ No.10

"I say! I say! I say!" Arturo chuckled, "When is a 'fit person' not a 'fit person'?" He eyed me closely.

"I don't know - when is a 'fit person' not a 'fit person'? No doubt, you're going to tell me!" I replied. Arturo showed me his tablet. There was an article on it:

Health minister threatened with ejection from royal college:Earl Howe's position on advisory committee under threat as doctors claim he 'mis-sold' health reforms

The article was written by Daniel Boffey in The Observer. It seems that The Royal College of Physicians want Earl Howe 'ousted from a prestigious role' within the College.

Six influential members of the professional body that represents doctors wrote to its president, Sir Richard Thompson, claiming that the minister was "not a fit person to fulfil this important role". Thompson has launched an investigation by the College's trustees into Howe's probity.

The senior doctors claim that Howe, a former banker, falsely advised them that reforms under the health and social care bill would not force doctors to use market mechanisms to choose where patients will be treated.

According to the doctors, the regulations will mean that clinical commissioning groups – the bodies to be set up by GPs to organise patients' care – will have to put services out to tender if there is more than one provider capable of offering particular treatments. This means NHS hospitals and services will have to compete with private health firms for business.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/05/earl-howe-royal-college-physicians

Since Arturo and I had watched Earl Howe, whom Arturo called 'smarmy', oozing his unctuous way through the House of Lords' debate on the Health and Social Care Bill, I must admit my sympathies are with the 'six influential members'.

Surely the good Physicians must have scratched their eminent heads at the prospect of an 'ex-banker' being given responsibility for pushing the grossly flawed Bill through the Lords! After all, bankers can't be trusted with banks, let alone health! The fact the country is on its benders, at the present time, is all down to bankers and PR men.

Here's yet another 'fit person' issue. You may recall that in 2010 there was a report about the Government's intention to legislate so that tobacco companies would have to put their fags in 'plain packets'. Doctors were delighted saying that it would help to stop children and young people from being enticed by the packaging. On November 20 2010, the BBC reported:

Make cigarette packaging plain, government urges The government is considering making all cigarettes packets plain brown or grey.

The report continued:

The government plans to ask retailers to cover up displays of cigarettes from next year to protect children.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said "glitzy designs on packets" attracted children to smoking and it made sense to look at "less attractive packaging".

The article quoted 'Old Silver Fox' Lansley the then Secretary of State for Health as follows:

"The evidence is clear that packaging helps to recruit smokers, so it makes sense to consider having less attractive packaging. It's wrong that children are being attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets.

"We would prefer it if people did not smoke and adults will still be able to buy cigarettes, but children should be protected from the start.

"The levels of poor health and deaths from smoking are still far too high, and the cost to the NHS and the economy is vast. That money could be used to educate our children and treat cancer,"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11796903

Now that is what I call laying it on the line! The 'evidence is clear'!! Can't be more positive than that! At that time, all the Cabinet colleagues seemed to agree! But whoa there, matee!! What was it that Arturo and I read in 'The Sun', last week?:

DAVID Cameron has scrapped plans to force all cigarettes to be sold in plain packs, The Sun can reveal.

That was the headline written by Tom Newton Dunn, The Sun's political editor. He continued:

Campaigners had insisted making packets bland would put smokers off — and stop kids from starting the habit.

The PM initially backed the plan, but has been persuaded it would damage the packaging industry.

There were also concerns it could cost £3billion in lost tax revenue and tie up the Commons in bitter arguments.

Mr Cameron has now ordered the proposed law to be pulled from next week’s Queen’s Speech.

A Whitehall source said: “Plain packaging may or may not be a good idea, but it’s nothing to do with the Government’s key purpose.

“The PM is determined to strip down everything we do so we can concentrate all our efforts on voters’ essentials. That means growth, immigration and welfare reform.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4911532/Plain-cigarette-packets-plan-abandoned-by-David-Cameron.html

Now there is a statement from a truly 'fit person', I don't think!!! What's more important 'kids starting the habit' with all the health issues that ensue - or caving in to the powerful lobby groups who have at heart their own base interests - just like the bankers!

What's going on here? The Government has its sights on 'essentials' such as 'growth' - that's a joke! 'Immigration'- that'll delight UKIP! 'Welfare reform'!!! That'll satisfy the flog 'em and beat 'em fraternity!

The phrase 'fit person' raises a can of worms, when one comes to think of the way the NHS has been treated! Just think about it for a moment. The present Secretary of State for Health, one Jeremy 'Gormless' Hunt, is some might say a cynical choice for a Government declaring that it will protect the NHS.

Why is that, you ask? Think back to the year 2005 when our Jeremy 'Gormless' Hunt was still a thrusting youth hoping to catch the eye of the Tory Big-Wigs. So what did he do? He co-authored 'Direct Democracy: An Agenda for a New Model Party'. In this book, there is the following statement:

“Our ambition should be to break down the barriers between private and public provision, in effect denationalising the provision of health care in Britain.”

Yes, my friends, you did read it correctly 'denationalising the provision of health care in Britain'. Now this same Jeremy 'Gormless' Hunt and ex-banker 'Smarmy' Howe are the lead 'fit persons' for health!!!! Well- I ask you! No wonder 'plain' packaging for cigarettes went up the Swanee! But, as Arturo has so frequently moaned:

What is politics other than institutionalised lying?

Arturo and I have had our fill of 'unfit persons' running along the corridors of power in Downing Street. Arturo's cousin, Alfonso, has promised us some crab claws and squid ink for supper tonight! I'm hoping for a saucer of Chianti to go with the meal!

Bye