Politicians always speak about the NHS with passion. It is our national religion. So today Louise Bours, Ukip’s health spokeswoman, adopted the demeanour of a Pentecostal preacher, addressing her party conference at such a high volume that MPs gathered in the House of Commons chamber could probably hear her as she pledged to work with Unite to oppose the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. She said she had received a letter from Len McCluskey outlining his concerns about the agreement, and replied:
‘UKIP WILL FIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU TO ENSURE THE NHS IS EXCLUDED FROM TTIP.’
This was an explicit attempt to quash Labour attacks on Ukip as a party that wants to restrict access to the health service. Bours also told the conference that ‘UKIP WILL ENSURE THAT THE NHS REMAINS FREE AT THE POINT OF ACCESS’ and attacked Labour and Tory ministers alike for failing on the NHS as she unveiled a raft of policies designed to address the ‘too posh to wash’ culture.
Her speech was not particularly impressive, unless she was indeed trying to shout all the way to Westminster. But Bours did show that Ukip realises it is vulnerable on the health service. Joining with Unite to fight the detail of TTIP while saying we need more free trade is opportunist, but that sort of all-things-to-all-men stance is key to Ukip’s success.
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