#IStandWithHarry

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 pm, November 21st, 2018 - 8 comments
Categories: class war - Tags: ,

Harry Leslie Smith, the conscience of modern Britain, is seriously ill in a Canadian hospital. Harry was visiting his son Canadian resident son John, who has been by his father’s side since the 95 year took ill.

John has been regularly updating Harry’s twitter feed and the response from around the world has been an incredible outpouring of love.

Harry’s speech in support of the NHS to the 2014 UK Labour Party conference , is one of the greatest pieces of heartfelt oratory in British political history. Not a dry eye in the house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0FIFsgxJV4

Harry has gone on to write many books, give many more speeches and to become an unlikely twitter star. Not for fame, not for money. For the people.

Here’s hoping Harry pulls through. Talking to an ICU doctor, the 95 year old said

” I can assure you I am not ready to die because I have too much work to do.”

I stand with Harry because Harry stands with all of us.

8 comments on “#IStandWithHarry ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. weston 1
    21 November 2018 at 11:25 pm

    Cool thanks for that TRP

  2. Jackel 2
    22 November 2018 at 12:26 am

    The vestiges of benevolent states notwithstanding, it does have the feel to it that history is repeating itself. Nothing learned, everything forgotten. We can only wonder at the infinity of human stupidity. Get well Harry.

  3. patricia bremner 3
    22 November 2018 at 5:10 am

    Thank you Te Reo PUTake. Get well Harry, you have indeed work to do.

  4. Ed 4
    22 November 2018 at 6:39 am

    Thanks for posting this.

  5. Lucy 5
    22 November 2018 at 9:16 am

    Get well Harry – his speech didn’t make me cry it made me bloody angry that the Tory’s were/are trying to dismantle the NHS with the compliance of the right wing faction of Labour!!!

  6. Ed1 6
    22 November 2018 at 10:55 am

    I agree a great speech. I became ill on holiday in Scotland in experienced the NHS a few years before that 2014 conference, and in consequence visited 3 different NHS hospitals as we travelled from to London before returning back to NZ. I observed a system that was working well but under considerable stress – shortages were giving long waiting times for treatment, full hospitals, and it was noticeable that many staff had emigrated to the UK from elsewhere. Staff from specialists down were competent, professional, and hard-working – similar to my observations of hospitals in New Zealand.
    Discussing the experience with others in the UK I became aware that, as here, private hospitals were increasing in size and number – with patients (particularly in some specialties depending on location) who were able to afford to pay for care being offered quicker treatment than in an NHS hospital. In one case I heard of a specialist worked about half his time at an NHS hospital, and the other at a hospital of which he was part owner – with the theatre time at the NHS hospital not being fully used due to budget constraints.
    My impression is that some of the same running down of public facilities (and consequential increase in the provision of private services) has been occurring in New Zealand, with private health insurance becoming more important – again for those that can afford it, which probably precludes over half the population unless it is provided by an employer.
    I would appreciate links to the following – my memory may not be accurate, but I think they are symptoms of the decline of our system:
    * Bill English as Prime Minister opening a new private hospital facility shortly before the last election
    * Denials of any problems at Middlemore, or other hospitals
    * Coleman leaving politics to a high level job with – a private hospital organisation
    * Proof that Middlemore problems had been understated by National
    and I have the recent article when the current government identified that they have yet another “hole” left by National – and committed $80 million to just one hospital in consequence.
    Other urls would also be appreciated!

  7. Rick Townsend 7
    22 November 2018 at 11:20 am

    I have just returned to NZ from three years in the UK. I was there because my son who has been living there for a long time had a serious health problem. The NHS went above and beyond in their care for him. They are magnificent. Harry and the people who voted for Labour in the post war UK election are unsung heroes. It beggars belief to see the way that the terrible Tory government is chipping away at the NHS for the benefit of private medicine providers.

    Kia kaha Harry

  8. mary_a 8
    22 November 2018 at 2:16 pm

    I stand with Harry. I wish him all the best.