Peace Group calls on local MPs to support diversion of £billions from Trident to the NHS

At its meeting on Wednesday (14 January 2015), Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group welcomed news that former deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott has come ‘round to the view that the £billions currently earmarked for a new nuclear submarine fleet should be diverted to spending on the NHS’.

Peace Group members were delighted to learn that Mr Prescott has suggested a straightforward way of resolving the deteriorating situation in the NHS. In an article in the Mirror, at the weekend, he expressed admiration for hospital workers caring for his sister, but also noted that “councils have cut their care budgets – so more elderly patients have to stay in hospital blocking beds because there aren’t the care packages to help them in the community” and that “A&E waiting times are now the worst since records began”. He concluded that: “Crisis hit hospitals deserve our cash more than nuclear submarines.”

Speaking on behalf of the Peace Group, Philip Gilligan said: "We know that Liz McInnes and Simon Danczuk share John Prescott’s horror at the impact of austerity on our health and social services.

"What we now need from our local MPs are clear promises that, if re-elected in May, they too would support a policy of diverting the £billions destined for a new nuclear weapons system to spending on the NHS.

"Will they join the former deputy leader of the Labour Party in stating unequivocally that cancelling so-called ‘Trident Replacement’, so that our loved ones can be cared for properly, is 'a price worth paying'.”