Owen Smith, a contender to lead the United Kingdom Labour Party, has attempted to start a viral marketing campaign to link him to British National Health Service founder Aneurin Bevan to distance himself from claims he wants to privatise the NHS.
Owen Smith quoted Nye Bevan as saying “No government that attempts to destroy the health service can hope to command the support of the British people.”
Owen Smith’s colleagues in the Welsh Assembly, however, approved the building of Neath Port Talbot Hospital that cost the private sector $87m (£66m) to build, yet will eventually result in the taxpayer paying more than $400m (£300m) for it.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Owen Smith also lobbied the NHS on behalf of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, complaining other firms were self-interested by not wanting it to have greater involvement in the National Health Service.
Owen Smith has also been criticised for not opposing the Work Capacity Assessments because of concerns doing so would affect his party’s electability. In defiance of the incumbent Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, he supported the “benefits cap” that mean some of the most disadvantaged people in society have less money to support themselves.