[A-List] UK state: Scottish opposition to New Labour

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

This looks like it has the potential to be a re-run of the embarrassment
experienced by New Labour in Kidderminster at the 2001 general election,
where incumbent MP and Blairite loyalist David Lock (posts passim) was
unseated by an independent candidate, a doctor, campaigning against the
restructuring of local health services. And good to see the Scottish
Socialist Party doing its best to make it so.


Retired doctor to stand as independent to protest against hospital charges
FRANCES HORSBURGH
The Herald, 7 October 2002

A RETIRED doctor has confirmed she will stand as an independent in next
year's parliament elections as part of a protest campaign against the
planned reorganisation of Glasgow hospital services.

Dr Jean Turner will fight Brian Fitzpatrick, the Labour incumbent in
Strathkelvin and Bearsden, who voted in support of the plan last month that
would see the Victoria Infirmary and Stobhill Hospital replaced by units
known as ACADs, which have no casualty units or overnight beds.

The retired Glasgow GP said local people were "disappointed" that Mr
Fitzpatrick had not been able to achieve more for Stobhill Hospital.

Speaking to The Herald last night, she said: "The phone has already started
to ring with offers of support and I think people are just beginning to
realise what the reorganisation really means."

Dr Turner, who worked in the health service for 35 years, said: "My
conscience would not let me walk away from this. I care for the patients who
will suffer - and some might die - as a result of the closure of in-patient
accommodation at Stobhill."

She also claimed it was clear from the feedback she was receiving that local
people were fed up with party politics.

"I think they see all the politicians as posturing for themselves and
working out how they can protect their own careers," she said.

As an independent MSP, she said she would have no-one breathing down her
neck and telling her how to vote.

Other Glasgow Labour MSPs could also face challenges from independents
representing campaigners protesting about the Acute Services Review by
Greater Glasgow Health Board, which will see hospitals close under the
reorganisation.

One Glasgow Labour member, Ken Macintosh, who represents Eastwood, has
already quit his job as a ministerial aide rather than vote to back the
changes in parliament.

Mike Watson, the minister for sport who represents Cathcart, has also come
under pressure to quit as a member of the executive. He has spoken out in
public against the downgrading of the Victoria Infirmary but then voted in
parliament in support of the changes backed by the executive.

Dr Turner stood in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election in June last
year against Mr Fitzpatrick. She came second, winning more than 7500 votes
for her "save Stobhill" candidacy compared to Mr Fitzpatrick's 15,401 votes.

More recently, hospital campaigners have also been buoyed up by the success
of Dr Richard Taylor who overturned a 7000 Labour majority in the general
election to win the Wyre Forest seat in a campaign to save Kidderminster
Hospital.

Dr Turner said last night she thought she could win the Strathkelvin and
Bearsden seat this time around as she would have more time to campaign.

Mr Fitzpatrick has defended his decision to back the executive, claiming
city Labour MSPs had won significant concessions and he would keep making
the case that the planned new ACAD unit at Stobhill - combined with other
first-rate service there - would help support the continued provision of
in-patient beds.

Tommy Sheridan, the Scottish Socialist party leader, said his party had
decided not to stand at the election if Dr Turner were a candidate.

Mr Sheridan said the SSP had not stood in the by-election and had been
acutely disappointed that the other parties had not followed suit.

"Our challenge to the other parties is to unite for the best possible
outcome in relation to the hospital. If that means standing aside and giving
Jean Turner a clear run against New Labour, the other parties should be
willing to follow our example," he said.

The SSP leader also said Dr Turner should make it clear she would resign the
seat if she won and the hospital was saved so that a fresh full-scale
contest could be held.