The party grew out of the movement opposing the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.[2] It campaigns for renationalisation of the privatised parts of the English National Health Service, reductions in outsourcing, and improvements to NHS funding, service provision and staffing.[3][4] Despite focusing on health, the party has a range of policies in areas such as the economy, housing and education. These include opposition to austerity and a call for political reform.[5]
History
Alex Ashman (left), Iain Maclennan (center) and Clive Peedell (right) campaigning during the 2013 Eastleigh by-election.
The passage of the Health and Social Care Act in March 2012 prompted the party's co-founder Clive Peedell, a cancer specialist doctor, to co-write an open letter to The Independent alongside esteemed medical signatories.[6] The letter was highly critical of the Liberal Democrats for their role in the passage of the Act and stated that the signatories would "form a coalition of healthcare professionals to take on coalition MPs at the next General Election, on the non-party, independent ticket of defending the NHS and acting in the wider public interest". Two months later, on 14 May 2012, Peedell co-founded the NHA Party with retired doctor Richard Taylor, who had twice been elected as MP for Wyre Forest on an 'independent health' component to his local hospital party name.[2] The party was launched in Westminster in November 2012.[7]
Party co-founder Dr Clive Peedell resigned the leadership in July 2016, and Dr Paul Hobday was appointed as interim leader.[11] Surgical registrar Dr Alex Ashman was elected as the new permanent party leader in December 2016[12] and promised to continue the work begun by Drs Peedell and Taylor.[13] Dr Ashman resigned as leader in 2019 and was replaced by co-leaders Alastair Fischer and Veronika Wagner.[citation needed]
The party has a range of policies on healthcare, political reform, the economy, immigration, housing, education and environmental sustainability.[5][19][20]
Health
To reverse privatisation and restore a publicly run NHS that provides universal healthcare.
To demand a moratorium on hospital re-configurations unless there are evidence-based, clinical reasons with local and staff support and adequate alternatives already in place.
Political reform
To enact stricter controls on MPs' and Peers' voting when they have a conflict of interest.
NHA campaign launch 2015. From left to right: Richard Taylor, Paul Hobday, John Lamport, Clive Peedell, Helen Salisbury, Karen Howell, Roseanne Edwards, Louise Irvine, Dave Ash.
Among the twelve candidates, the party won no seats and only saved two deposits (i.e. won more than 5%). Their best result came in Wyre Forest, where Dr Taylor (who had previously won the seat twice for the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern party) came 4th with 14.6% of the vote. Dr Irvine came 4th with 8.5% in South West Surrey.
2017 general election
The party stood five candidates at the 2017 general election.[24] Food blogger and activist Jack Monroe was announced as the NHA Party candidate for Southend West,[25] but withdrew due to ill health and receiving death threats.[26] The candidates standing were:
