Good morning Ed,
I think this is a typical case when we are both right as we are incorrect.... It happens!
I remember 1994 very well indeed as my son was born prematurely in that year. I also remember wishing Virginia Bottomley had an accident on Roehampton Lane and no A&E at Queen Mary's. Very unkind thoughts, I grant you, but not surprising when you have such a sick child and Queen Mary's being close to us. Please read the Common's debate on 25 October 2024 (link below) when the closure of Queen Mary's hospital is mentioned by Margaret Beckett.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1994-10-25/debates/c503b7cb-8837-4a71-9ea4-1974e04d3745/CommonsChamber
Tony Blair became PM in May 1997 and, as you say, A&E at Queen Mary's was closed in August 1997. With all the best will in the world, I cannot see how a government in power for 2 months could have organized the closure of A&E at Queen Mary's in two months.
Also, please remember that the PFI was introduced by Norman Lamont and John Mayor in 1992. It was expanded, I grant you, by the Labour government under Tony Blair and continues to be expanded today.
On matters related to the NHS, who entered into a contract with US firm Palantir for COVID vaccines? Does the name Matt Hancock ring a bell? (I am being awful, I agree). As far as I am aware, the "partnership" with Palantir was expanded by Steve Barclay and Victoria Atkins. Wes Streeting is also trying to extend the company's involvement in the NHS data....
So, quite frankly, the dismantling of the NHS as we know it and cherish it is not associated with one political party only, regardless of the wish of the electorate......
Ivonne Holliday ● 221d