MPs have voted against protecting the NHS from foreign control - here's what that means
UK MPs have voted down a trade clause intended to protect the NHS and publicly-funded health and care services from foreign control.
The clause was voted down with 340 "Noes" to 251 "Ayes" during debates over the Trade Bill in Parliament on 20 June.
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Hide AdWhat was the clause and when was it voted on?
According to the House of Commons, New Clause 17 was intended to "protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services in other parts of the UK from any form of control from outside the UK."
The clause was a Labour amendment to the Trade Bill, which aims to help with the process of “transitioning” the EU’s trade agreements to UK agreements ahead of the UK's exit from the EU at the end of 2020. The remaining stages of the Trade Bill were debated in Parliament on Monday 20 July.
Who voted the clause down?
What were the finer details of the clause?
- Ensuring that the ability to provide a “comprehensive and publicly funded health service free at the point of delivery” was not jeopardised by any trade deal
- Protecting the quality and safety of health and care services
- Regulating pricing and control of medicines
- Protecting NHS staff from having their employment terms changed, including their rights at work or pay
- Protecting patients from having their data sold off
- Protecting the NHS from investor-state dispute settlements (ISDS) clauses which would allow foreign investors to sue governments for any measures that harm their profits
How have MPs reacted?
The government has said that UK law offers protections for the NHS and that any changes would have to come before parliament in order to be implemented.
Advocates of the clause, however, say that the result of the vote will leave the NHS open to damaging trade deals. Shadow international trade minister, Bill Esterson, said that the health service may be left “wide open to pharmaceutical giants” as a result.
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Hide AdShadow Environment Secretary Luke Pollard MP tweeted after the vote, "MPs are now voting on a Labour amendment that would explicitly exclude the NHS from future trade deals. Despite all their warm words on the NHS the Government whipped Tory MPs to oppose it and it is defeated 251 to 340. NHS remains on the table for a deal with Trump."