Nicola Sturgeon challenges Labour over NHS

NICOLA Sturgeon has challenged Labour to “match the SNP’s commitment to boosting the NHS budget across the UK”, as she promised to ensure the health service is protected from a controversial EU-US trade deal.

Margaret Curran said full fiscal autonomy would hurt women. Picture: Ken Jack / Demotix

The First Minister said the SNP would ensure that the NHS is not harmed by the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

She made the pledge after the Scottish Trades Union Congress yesterday stated its opposition to TTIP at its annual gathering held in Ayr.

Critics have warned that the deal could pave the way for US multinationals to sue UK or Scottish governments if they try to freeze the private sector out of the NHS under a clause which allows them to litigate if governments act in a way that jeopardises their profits.

The SNP leader, speaking yesterday during a campaign visit to Portobello, said: “We will vote to boost NHS funding by £9.5 billion across the UK – delivering a total increase for Scotland’s NHS of £2bn.Ed Miliband and Jim Murphy now need to give the same commitment to properly fund our health service.”

Meanwhile, shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said women would have to “suffer” the worst effects of the SNP’s plan for full fiscal autonomy, as Scottish Labour launched its women’s manifesto.