9 october-Block the Bridge, Block the Bill! London

Westminster Bridge, Westminster

Places: westminster

On one side of Westminster Bridge is Parliament. On 7th September, MPs in the Commons voted for the end of the NHS as we know it. Yet the coalition’s Health and Social Care bill was not in the Lib Dem manifesto. It was not in the Tory manifesto. None of us voted for this.

On the opposite side of the bridge is St Thomas’ Hospital, one of Britain’s oldest medical institutions. If the bill passes, hospitals like St Thomas’ will be sold to private corporations, the staff put on private payrolls and beds given over to private patients. Despite the government’s lies, this bill represents the wholesale privatization of the NHS and, with it, the destruction of the dream of comprehensive healthcare provided equally to all.

On October 12th, the Lords have a chance to vote down the bill, and a huge Liberal Democrat rebellion is brewing. We have one last chance to save our NHS.

On Sunday 9th October, just three days before the Lords vote, join UK Uncut in a spectacular act of mass civil disobedience to block the bill. By blocking Westminster Bridge we symbolically block the bill from getting from Parliament to our hospitals. Yes, it will be disruptive. Yes, it will stop the traffic. But this is an emergency and we have to shout as loud as we can.

Get to the middle of Westminster Bridge shortly before 1pm. When Big Ben strikes one, pick one of the tactics below and help block the bridge:

Bring some fake blood and play dead
Bring hospital radio to the bridge with some music and comedy
Bring a nurse for a resuscitation skill-share
Dress up in scrubs and perform an operation
Enjoy a picnic overlooking Parliament
Share stories about the the NHS
Invite a friend from across the pond to describe the reality of a privatised healthcare system
Invite older generations to describe a time before universal healthcare
(if you’ve got other good ideas, email them to ukuncut@gmail.com)

http://london.indymedia.org/events/10248