Reply to comment

Published: 02 June 2011
by TOM FOOT

NHS campaigners forced the closure of three high street banks on Saturday.

The demonstration, organised by UkUncut and Camden Keep Our NHS Public included a public “beheading” of Conservative health secretary Andrew Lansley outside branches of NatWest, HSBC and Barclays in Camden Town.

The event – part of 40 protests nationwide – was aimed at raising awareness of how the banks avoid paying tax on profits made out of the NHS.

University College London medical student Marion Davies said: “HSBC are making millions in profit from NHS hospitals and their use of tax havens is a scandal that must end. Doctors and nurses deserve a bonus – not the bankers that caused the financial crisis.”

UkUncut argues that HSBC used a tax loophole to divert millions of pounds of NHS money into a Guernsey “tax haven”. In 2010, a company set up by HSBC made more than £38million from its 33 private finance initiative hospital-building schemes – and paid £100,000 in UK tax, less than half of one per cent of the profits.

The three banks chose to close their doors to the public for more than an hour in fear of an occupation. 

Tourists, shoppers – and an irate businessman who could not pay his bills – watched as campaigners lay “dead” outside for 10 minutes. 

Mr Lansley was put on trial for crimes against the NHS, found guilty and placed in stocks where he was “beheaded” with a fake hacksaw.

There was a chance to play a Camden version of  Monopoly, with the Whittington, Royal Free, University College London and St Luke’s hospital sites for sale at knockdown prices.

Candy Udwin, chairwoman of Camden Keep Our NHS Public, said: “We were showing that it is the banks that are sick, not the health service. The bonus of one chief executive would pay for all the cuts in Camden. The NHS does not need restructuring.”

The Health and Social Care Bill is expected to return to Parliament this month but the New Journal understands it may be delayed until after the summer recess.