Brown intervenes in American NHS debate

By Ian Dunt

Gordon Brown has gone about as far as politically possible to intervene in the debate over American adverts casting the NHS in a bad light, by tweeting his support for the institution.

Anger across Britain grew by the hour yesterday as details spread of the US adverts showing across the Atlantic.

The ads, paid for by a right-wing group, made several damaging assertions about the NHS in an effort to prevent President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms.

Comment: Why I'll never understand Americans

VoiceOver

MRSA Action UK: Clean Your Hands!

The ads were followed by damaging debate in the US, in which the NHS was branded "evil" and "Orwellian".

But British anger over the misleading ads spread throughout the internet, focusing, predictably, on Twitter.

A campaign entitled #welovethenhs was set up, and quickly received so much support the site crashed.

Gordon and Sarah Brown, and health secretary Andy Burnham, eventually sent in their own messages of support.

The prime minister wrote: "NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death. Thanks for always being there."

Mr Burnham wrote: "Over the moon about strong support for the NHS - an institution I will defend to my dying day, second only to Everton FC."

At one point yesterday, the hash tag was attracting 750 new tweets every five seconds.

Meanwhile, Tory MEP Daniel Hannan has come in for criticism after he went on American Television to say the NHS was a "60-year mistake".

"I wouldn't wish it on anybody," he continued.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley rebuked Mr Hannan: "There are millions of people who are grateful for the care they have received from the NHS.

"It does them and the NHS a disservice for Daniel Hannan to give Americans such a negative and partial view. That we can access healthcare free at point of use, based on need, is something others envy."

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott hit back at the comments as proof of the Conservative party not pursuing a progressive agenda.

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.