Union Urges MPs To Support 'A Vote Of No Confidence'

Unite the union is urging MPs to back 'a vote of no confidence' in health secretary Jeremy Hunt over his ‘seven-day NHS’ plans.

On Monday, MPs will debate the motion, signed by 220,000 people, which says that Hunt has 'alienated the entire workforce of the NHS by threatening to impose a harsh contract and conditions on first consultants and soon the rest of the NHS staff'.

Unite has 100,000 members in the health service and the union's national officer for health, Barrie Brown urged MPs to back the 'no confidence' motion on Hunt, whom he described as 'probably one of the worst health secretaries since the NHS was formed in 1948'.

Barrie Brown said: "Seven-day services are nothing new to our members who have provided 24/7 healthcare services for many years - but this fact has escaped Hunt’s understanding of the NHS.

"Hunt is the health secretary who has been more critical of health service staff since the creation of the NHS than any of his predecessors, yet now he pushes for seven day services from staff whose value and commitment he clearly questions at nearly every opportunity.

"Hunt's relentless push for seven day services – which are already there – is set against the background of not only being the richest member of David Cameron’s cabinet, but the one who denies a one per cent pay increase to NHS staff by rejecting the recommendations from the respected independent pay review body."