After the defection of former Tory Mark Reckless to UKIP, on Thursday 20th November we will have another by-election. Whoever gets elected, the first item on their agenda will be voting on the NHS anti-privatisation bill the following day.
PLMR’s Rob Comba speaks to Tom Mludzinski from Comres to find out who’s topping the polls in Rochester, before getting the thoughts of healthcare professionals on NHS privatisation.
UKIP seem confident of winning the Rochester and Strood by-election. Are they right to be so certain?
Tom says that Comres and Lord Ashcroft’s recent polls have UKIP way out in the lead.
The Tories were privately confident of winning a month or so ago. What has happened?
Tom agrees that Rochester seemed different to Clacton (where Douglas Carswell also defected from Conservative to UKIP) but UKIP are continuing to benefit from the ‘anti-politics’ vote.
How will Labour fare in Rochester?
Tom is not expecting to see Labour feature in this by-election. Their focus is on next May.
Whoever wins in Rochester and Strood will be able to vote on the NHS anti-privatisation bill being tabled by a backbench Labour MP the next day.
At the Care England conference, Rob also asked healthcare professionals Rob Martin from Anchor Care and Antonia Trypiniotou from Nutricia what they think about privatisation of the NHS.
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