Trump Has Simply Let The Mask Slip — The Nhs Has Been On Sale For A Long Time

by Youssef El-Gingihy @ElGingihy

On his State visit to the UK, President Trump has let the cat out of the bag by declaring that the NHS would be on the table as part of a post Brexit US/UK trade deal. These remarks have caused no small amount of dismay and consternation as well as leading to an enormous backlash from the public. As Nigel Lawson once pointed out, the NHS is the closest thing that the British have to a religion and the principles of universal, comprehensive healthcare free at the point of need are overwhelmingly popular.

Unsurprisingly, Conservative ministers, including health secretary Matt Hancock, have been falling over each other to deny that the NHS is for sale. Unfortunately, as I have outlined in the new edition of my book How to Dismantle the NHS in 10 Easy Steps, the reality is that the NHS has been for sale for a long time. Admittedly, a US/UK post Brexit trade deal would likely accelerate the process of privatisation that is already underway.

During Margaret Thatcher’s first term, plans were unveiled to dismantle the NHS and convert it to a private health insurance system. This met with fierce resistance from her cabinet and the plans were shelved. This led to a more piecemeal approach as outlined in two key think tank documents; one of…