Summary
It was when I visited my parents in the town of Gourock two weeks ago that I realised something big had happened. Driving through Port Glasgow, Greenock, then Gourock itself, I was stuck by posters in every other window. Each bears a photograph of the rather monolithic, 1970s-style local hospital, Inverclyde Royal, along with the headline: Stop the Cuts! It's not a particularly lovable building to look at, but, goodness, does it inspire fierce loyalty among the surrounding populace.
My mother later told me about the crowded public meetings she and her friends and neighbours were attending - and the roasting given to the health board managers who tried to defend, in the most patronising and insulting manner, plans to move accident and emergency, along with most surgery, to Paisley, 30 miles away. She spoke of their admiration for Mr Morrice, the surgeon who dared to criticise his employers in public. She also told of the audience's suspicion of local politicians who campaigned alongside them but, despite belonging to the party of government, seemed unable to offer anything more than soap-box sympathy.See the full content of this document
Extract
You Won't Be Able to Waffle Your Way Out of This, Jack
I knew, from professional observation as a journalist, that similar meetings were happening around Scotland. However, it was my mother's description, and all those window posters, that brought a very human issue to life: this is a rebellion that could equal the anti-poll tax campaign in its ability to embarrass, and even unse...
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