Corbyn’s support for my NHS reinstatement bill was not inept | Letters from Caroline Lucas MP and others

I have no wish to intrude on the Labour leadership debates and I have no idea whether former shadow health minister Heidi Alexander is right in her critique of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership style, but for her aides to pick out Corbyn’s support for my NHS reinstatement bill as evidence both of his “ineptitude” and of his shadow chancellor’s “undermining” her strikes me as both desperate and depressing (Shadow cabinet inept and shoddy, says MP, 20 August). My private members’ bill, drawn up after extensive consultation with health experts and health service users, would have reversed the creeping marketisation of the NHS – under both New Labour and the Conservatives – and stripped away the costly market mechanisms that waste NHS money and lead to inefficiencies and the fragmentation of services.

Perhaps a more interesting question is why the rest of the Labour party didn’t join their SNP, Plaid and Lib Dem colleagues in giving it their backing too. With a few honourable exceptions, they chose to abstain instead. Yet this is precisely the kind of policy a successful Labour party would surely be expected to promote – as well as demonstrating a greater willingness to work alongside colleagues from other parties on those areas where there is common ground between us.

Overcoming party tribalism and finding practical ways of working together will be crucial to any hope of progressive policies finding a majority at the next election – whether that be on the NHS, tackling inequality, putting rail in public hands, or seriously addressing the climate crisis. Real leadership means being bold and honest enough to recognise that there’s far too much at stake to refuse to cooperate for the common good.
Caroline Lucas MP
Green, Brighton Pavilion

• Heidi Alexander’s self-justifying piece would have made David Brent blush. Alexander had perhaps the easiest job in Labour front-rank politics – defending a properly funded, publicly run health service free at the point of use – yet she managed to reduce her portfolio to dull, uninspiring managerialism. On every count she flings at John McDonnell for “undermining” her – his joining a junior doctors’ picket line, his gathering the views of frontline health activists and his support for Caroline Lucas’s NHS reinstatement bill – McDonnell clearly spoke for the vast majority of Labour supporters and members.
John Medhurst
Hove, East Sussex

• Jeremy Corbyn’s support for a National Education Service is welcome but hardly “courageous” (Zoe Williams, 15 August). None of his statements to date have spelt out the urgent reforms needed to England’s segregated and hierarchical system of secondary schools. He could confront the need for an integrated 14-19 curriculum and discuss the future of the GCSE. He could propose new forms of local and regional accountability. He could discuss fair admissions, measures to reduce religious segregation and how to end, not extend, the 11-plus. Without more detail Labour’s policy on secondary schools will, sadly, remain an empty space. Even more courage is needed, Jeremy.
David Chaytor
Todmorden, West Yorkshire

• It is a sad day for British democracy that Momentum – the left-wing ginger group active within the Labour Party – has seemingly turned its back on non-violence (Momentum no longer rules out acts of violence, 20 August). Momentum’s unwillingness to sustain its previous principled opposition to violence is because some of the fringe groups who are associated with them want a licence from the left to face down neo-fascist groups fist-by-bloody-fist. Aligning this sort of macho political posturing with what the brave men and women who resisted the Nazis did is an insult.
Martin Jones
New Barnet, Hertfordshire

Corbyn’s support for my NHS reinstatement bill was not inept | Letters from Caroline Lucas MP and others

Caroline Aherne fights a dignified battle against lung cancer

For all Bafta-winner Aherne’s exuberant wit and undeniable talent, the 50-yr-previous had led the really opposite of a charmed daily life cruelly, this is the third time she has had to confront cancer.

She and her brother have been both born with retinoblastoma, cancer of the retina, which left her blind in 1 eye. Not too long ago, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

And now, gaunt, sporting a wig – but also her trademark diffident smile – she is beating the drum for the charity that is lending her and other sufferers this kind of precious help.

The survival charges for lung cancer, the 2nd most typical form of the ailment right after breast cancer, are not good 31 per cent of sufferers survive a year, petering out to 8.five per cent following five.

With her characteristic humour, Aherne recalls her mother consoling her as a little one that “only special men and women get cancer”. Only really specific folks turn out to be Macmillan nurses, as well: and they urgently require not just our gratitude but our donations.

If you have ever laughed at the Royle Family, give these days.

Caroline Aherne fights a dignified battle against lung cancer

Caroline Aherne fights a dignified battle towards lung cancer

For all Bafta-winner Aherne’s exuberant wit and undeniable talent, the 50-yr-old had led the extremely opposite of a charmed life cruelly, this is the third time she has had to confront cancer.

She and her brother were both born with retinoblastoma, cancer of the retina, which left her blind in one eye. Just lately, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

And now, gaunt, wearing a wig – but also her trademark diffident smile – she is beating the drum for the charity that is lending her and other individuals this kind of valuable assistance.

The survival charges for lung cancer, the second most widespread kind of the illness following breast cancer, are not great 31 per cent of sufferers survive a year, petering out to 8.five per cent following 5.

With her characteristic humour, Aherne recalls her mother consoling her as a kid that “only specific men and women get cancer”. Only extremely special men and women turn into Macmillan nurses, also: and they urgently need to have not just our gratitude but our donations.

If you’ve ever laughed at the Royle Family members, give right now.

Caroline Aherne fights a dignified battle towards lung cancer

Caroline Aherne: mum advised us only special men and women get cancer

She stated: “When you hear them telling you have cancer, it really is accurate that you actually do not take it in appropriately, you just do not feel of the inquiries and then when you come out since she’s been in there with you she answers all your questions that you haven’t been ready to inquire at the time or haven’t considered of.

“This is the very best bit that they comprehend they entirely realize what you are going by way of and what your loved ones are going by way of.”

Aherne shared a joke from the time of her chemotherapy treatment method at the Cecilia Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, involving Royle Loved ones co-star Ricky Tomlinson who played her on-display father.

Aherne stated: “The cleaner came in one particular day, she went, ‘Oh, I knew you were right here, they advised me you have been right here, oh that’s excellent, I adore the Royle Family but I would’ve significantly favored it to be Ricky in that bed!’

“She was wishing lung cancer on Ricky Tomlinson!”

Aherne continued: “I do not know why this popped into my head, but you know when you are in intensive care and they wash you, this nurse explained, ‘Do you want to wash your very own fairy?

“So, er, I’m now my very own fairy washer!”

She extra: “I just hold my hands up and say, ‘thank God for Macmillan nurses’. Fifty many years in the past when my mum located out that we had cancer they did not have any Macmillan nurses you had been sort of on your personal with it so it really is a blessing we have got them now.”

At the finish of her speech Aherne smiled, place her hands to her hair and joked: “My wig stayed on!”

The 50-yr-old, whose comedy creations have also included her spoof chat host Mrs Merton, unveiled last month she was battling lung disease right after agreeing to aid launch the new initiative in her property town Manchester.

Research by cancer charity Macmillan showed the city came bottom out of 150 areas in England for premature deaths from cancer.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive, Macmillan Cancer Support mentioned: “We are hugely grateful to Caroline Aherne for supporting Macmillan and MCIP and assisting us recruit individuals impacted by cancer, specifically at a time when she is undergoing cancer treatment herself in Manchester.

“It was generous-spirited of her to sacrifice her privacy at a challenging time to help make things greater for other people in Manchester who are becoming and will be taken care of for cancer in Manchester.”

Aherne can at present be heard as the voice of hit Channel four present Gogglebox and has explained she would carry on functioning on the show.

Aherne, who has been a smoker, has struggled with health difficulties for years.

She has fought depression and drink difficulties and spent time in the Priory clinic following a suicide attempt, ahead of moving to Australia to avoid the glare of publicity.

The star has also had a string of failed relationships – her marriage to former New Order guitarist Peter Hook ended and she began a romance with Tv researcher Matt Bowers.

They split but she was devastated when he died of cancer at the age of 28.

Her considerably-loved programme The Royle Loved ones ran for 3 series and has returned for a amount of seasonal specials, most recently at Christmas 2012.

Caroline Aherne: mum advised us only special men and women get cancer

Caroline Aherne battling lung cancer

Caroline Ahern is fighting lung cancer – right after earlier battles with the disease in her eye and bladder. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Caroline Aherne, the award winning actor and comedian, has disclosed that she is recovering from lung cancer.

Aherne, who co-wrote, directed and starred in The Royle Household, exposed she has been undergoing treatment method in her house city of Manchester It is the 50-12 months-old’s third battle with the condition, having been born with a rare kind of retina cancer and later on acquiring treatment for bladder cancer.

She manufactured the diagnosis public ahead of her launch of the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership up coming month, which will deliver collectively all cancer care providers in Manchester with a see to enhancing help for cancer sufferers.

In a statement, she mentioned: “I’ve had cancer and my brother’s had cancer and we know how it has an effect on individuals. It really is brilliant that all these huge institutions want to make cancer care much better for Manchester folks, but even the ideal medical doctors, nurses and managers on Earth aren’t going to be capable to understand what requirements strengthening unless of course folks affected by cancer in Manchester get concerned and inform them what wants to modify.

She continued: “They’ve asked me to get involved and I’m truly glad that I can do my bit to encourage Manchester men and women to talk up about where items do go wrong with cancer care.”

The daughter of Irish immigrants Bert and Maureen, Aherne grew up on a council estate in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and her 1st job was answering phones at BBC offices in the city.

Each Aherne and her older brother Patrick have been born with a uncommon type of retina cancer which she was taken care of for into her 20s. She then underwent treatment method for bladder cancer, the same condition that later on took the lifestyle of her boyfriend Matt Bower in 1997.

Aherne, who has been a smoker, has also spoken of her battles with depression and alcohol, following the breakdown of her marriage to musician Peter Hook, the death of her father and struggles with fame. She invested time at the Priory clinic before moving to Australia to escape the public eye..

She just lately created her return to Tv however as the narrator of popular Channel 4 show Gogglebox. She mentioned in her statement: “I will be narrating this week’s Gogglebox, and I will carry on to narrate Gogglebox for as long as Gogglebox want me.”

Nicola Cook of Macmillan Cancer Assistance stated she was delighted by Aherne’s involvement in their new cancer partnership. “We know that its accomplishment hinges on the involvement of men and women affected by cancer in Manchester,” she stated.

“Caroline’s 1 of Manchester’s very own – she’s loved here and people identify with her. We hope that if people see that Caroline is sitting down and talking to us then perhaps they’ll know that they can also.”

Caroline Aherne battling lung cancer

The Royle Loved ones star Caroline Aherne reveals she is fighting lung cancer

“We’re lucky in Manchester to have some of the very best bits of cancer care with places like the Christie, the Nightingale Centre and the Cecelia Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital and St Ann’s Hospice – and the final factor I want to do is knock the fantastic function that goes on in this city.

“It really is brilliant that all these big institutions want to make cancer care far better for Manchester people, but even the greatest doctors, nurses and managers on earth aren’t going to be in a position to understand what demands enhancing unless people impacted by cancer in Manchester get involved and tell them what needs to adjust.”

Aherne and her brother, Patrick, now 52, have been both born with a unusual cancer of the retina – and she was left practically blind in a single eye as a consequence.

Aherne underwent remedy at Bart’s Hospital in London every single 4 months as a child just before ultimately offered the all-clear when she was in her 20s.

She has also because been taken care of for bladder cancer. Her former boyfriend Matt Bower, 27, lost a battle with cancer shortly after he and Aherne split in 1997.

The actress rose to prominence as the character Mrs Merton on The Mrs Merton Present, in 1994, before going on to write and star in hit sitcom The Royle Household in the late 1990s.

In latest years Aherne has shunned the limelight to devote time with her mom and father at her residence in Timperley, Cheshire.

During the Nineties she suffered from depression and drink problems following the death of her father and the breakdown of her marriage to musician Peter Hook and in 1998 she attempted suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

She was subsequently treated at The Priory clinic and later even underwent electrical shock treatment in 2005.

The Royle Loved ones star Caroline Aherne reveals she is fighting lung cancer