Broadcaster, doctor and vocal NHS campaigner Dr Phil Hammond announced on Tuesday that he would stand as a candidate for the National Health Action Party (NHA) in North East Somerset where Rees-Mogg is currently MP.
Just hours later he tweeted that he had been fired from his Saturday mid-morning show on BBC Radio Bristol.
The physician and health campaigner who has made never made a secret of his politics, thanked his team and listeners.
Well that was quick. I’ve been sacked by @bbcrb for announcing my intention to stand for @NHAparty against @Jacob_Rees_Mogg. Thanks @thinktwink @RMegi, the loyal listeners & the fabulous team at Dr Phil’s Saturday Surgery. It’s been a hugely enjoyable 12 years.
— Dr Phil Hammond (@drphilhammond) August 21, 2018
I told the head of @bbcrb I was considering standing & she thought I would only have to come off air during purdah. And I announced it on @BBCOne @bbcsml a month ago. So why they should sack me now is odd. Anyone here can see what my politics are. I thought transparency was good
— Dr Phil Hammond (@drphilhammond) August 21, 2018
The health campaigner tweeted that he had informed the head of Radio Bristol before of his intention, expecting to only be off air during the run up to any election that he stood against the Hard Brexit Conservative, adding: “So why they should sack me now is odd. Anyone here can see what my politics are. I thought transparency was good.”
Dr Hammond is also a regular face on TV after presenting five series of Trust Me, I’m a Doctor on BBC2 and also presents Music Group on Radio 4.
The NHA campaigns for renationalisation of privatised parts of the NHS and for improvements to NHS funding.
Dr Hammond, a physician, said on Twitter today (Tues): “Honoured to announce that @NHAparty have endorsed me as their prospective Parliamentary candidate for North East Somerset (sitting MP @Jacob_Rees_Mogg).
He also vowed: “As a believer in progressive alliances, I will stand aside if a stronger candidate declares #votedrphil”
Head of the Hard Brexit supporting shadowy ERG group Jacob Rees-Mogg this weekend threatened to block Theresa May’s Brexit plans in parliament.
Members of the ERG are reported to be plotting an alternative harder Brexit as well as stressing the benefits of a no-deal Brexit.
As a junior doctor Dr Hammond stood in the 1992 general election as a ‘Struck Off and Die Doctor’s Alliance’ candidate against Conservative MP William Waldegrave, the then Secretary of State for Health.
He is Vice President of the Patients Association and has fought for patients’ rights, reporting and investigating issues including the Bristol heart scandal in 1992. He was among investigators who broke the story and gave evidence at the subsequent enquiry.
In 2009, Hammond broke allegations about pathology misdiagnosis in Bristol – subject of an independent inquiry chaired by Jane Mishcon.
Writing for Private Eye, he exposed the shocking treatment of NHS whistleblowers and how large sums of public money are used to silence them.
Honoured to announce that @NHAparty have endorsed me as their prospective Parliamentary candidate for North East Somerset (sitting MP @Jacob_Rees_Mogg) As a believer in progressive alliances, I will stand aside if a stronger candidate declares #votedrphil
— Dr Phil Hammond (@drphilhammond) August 21, 2018
Here is Dr Phil Hammond defending the NHS on The One Show:
If we keep voting to live in a low tax economy, our public services will suffer. If we’d put the same percentage of our GDP as Germany into healthcare since 2000, we’d have put an extra £260 billion into the NHS. Think how wonderful the service would be https://t.co/A1TUCsOnrm
— Dr Phil Hammond (@drphilhammond) August 13, 2018
It costs me much more to insure my dog than a GP gets for looking after me for a year. If ever a health system had earned the right to have more investment, it’s the NHS. But money should only go supporting frontline services that are proven to work https://t.co/9lWoDsA8x9
— Dr Phil Hammond (@drphilhammond) August 13, 2018
