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38 Degrees' NHS "advice" destroyed

Conservative MP Stephen Phillips has comprehensively and forensically destroyed the so-called legal advice put out by dishonest, left-wing pressure group 38 Degrees about the NHS bill.  See his coolly lacerating letter below. 

Phil Taylor ● 5330d12 Comments

This will be boring to most (sorry), it's really for Phil.http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/08/save-our-nhs-what-lansley-said-in-the-house-of-commons/

Tony Wood ● 5327d

Of course I'm sorry to have caused confusion,I posted it to try and show what angle Stephen Phillips QC is coming from,I obviously failed dismally.  I suspect that anyone with those sort of earnings would find anyone to the left of Margaret Thatcher to be a neo Communist and absolutely incapable of forming a valid opinion on an organisation such as 38 degrees. I accept that I didn't do a great job and will try harder in future!  I'll put it on record again that I am not a Socialist nor a Capitalist,just a victim of both. Voting wise...I voted for Thatcher at her first election then I didn't vote again until Blairs first election,not a good record is it? I haven't and wont vote again until there is a fundamental change in political system in the UK,which I hope 38 Degrees can help bring about.  Going back to Stephen Phillips QC earnings, it has been worked out that for every wealthy person it takes about 30 lowly paid workers to keep them in the style that they've become accoustomed...to me that's not a good state of affairs ,maybe I'm odd.    Pensioners living on a state pension have to live for a month on what Mr. Phillips earns in an hour. Now at the end of the day his "wages" have to be paid by someone and indirectly that's you and me,of course we don't get a bill from him but his customers pass it on to their customers ad infinitum until it hits the little old pensioner at the bottom of the food chain..that's just great isn't it?  Whilst I'm in an apologising mood (which wont last) I have to say sorry to Phil for the line in an earlier post which read...  "I'm afraid that starting from where your head is there can only be one conclusion...forgone."   On re reading that it could be construed as being rude (a double entendre),it wasn't intended and should have read something like.  "I'm afraid that given your polical stance,then you will only come to one conclusion...a forgone one.  In closing I'd like to add , going back to Stephen Phillips views on the 38 Degrees,all the way through his critique he labours the point that their legal advisor was of very junior status,maybe he was maybe he wasn't,but personally I found his holier than thou attitude noxious,I presume he himself started at the bottom and that shouldn't assume a lack of knowledge, just one of age. Hope that clarifies.

Tony Wood ● 5329d

I was confused as well. I have no idea what it is trying to prove but the post is a copy of the Register of Interests of Conservative MP Stephen Phillips QC.

Nigel Brooks ● 5330d

These arguments about Labour vs. Tory are a sideshow. The real issue as we see with the deficits of some trusts are the PFI contracts that will lead to hospital closures. PFI is a curse that we are only a few years into that will act as a millstone around the treasury and the taxpayer for years. If this govt is serious about reducing the deficit they should chop PFI now and then act tough on renegotiations of any contracts. we are getting ripped off and the arguments about privatisation are a sideshow when many hospital facilities are owned by international banks!!and we have to pay silly amounts. If you had to enter into a PFI contract to buy your house it would be like getting a mortgage from wonga.com!!

Peter Chadburn ● 5330d

Tony,I'm confused.What does your long post actually mean?To whom does it refer? And what is the 'evidence' attempting to prove?

Eric Alan Leach ● 5330d

Phil  Yes I've already seen that,I really must see an optician,nearly pulled my eyes out trying to read it.  The only useful thing I learnt at school was when my physics teacher said "Never start an investigation knowing the answer,because you will always proove yourself right".  I'm afraid that starting from where your head is there can only be one conclusion...forgone.  But here's hoping.

Tony Wood ● 5330d

Tony,I have made a start on proving my case.  See here:http://www.38degreesdebunked.blogspot.com/

Phil Taylor ● 5330d

"But, many of the people associated with 38 Degrees are members and candidates of Labour and Green parties.  They are a political organisation that is trying to kid the public they are not, hence dishonest."  What is your source for that Phil,Stephen Phillips said the same thing but didn't offer any proof either? I'd be surprised if a QC would resort to supposition, but it does look that way.   It seems a bit like me saying the Tory party is a front for the Masons just because some Tory MPs are on the Square.   It's almost as if the Tories are a bit troubled by them...it's weird.

Tony Wood ● 5330d

"A meaningless post when no evidence is presented"  I thought that too Eric! (before I read your reply). At least he had the honesty to say that in "his view"  38 Degrees was a Left leaning organisation,though he produced no evidence of same.  I feel that saying He'd have nothing more to do with them on that basis may be an error of judgement...we'll see.  I shall have to get a copy of the original M.S. and a copy of the precis that I can read,to see what he and Phil is going on about.  Anway I shall stop worrying about his financial predicament.  Register of Members’ Interests2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etcQueen’s Counsel in private practice. Received £4,750, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Travers Smith Braithwaite LLP, 10 Snow Hill, London EC1A 2AL. Hours: Approximately 9 hours carried out between 8 December 2009 and 9 January 2010. (Registered 5 August 2010)Received £5,000, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: More Fisher Brown LLP, 45 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AE. Hours: 10 hrs carried out on 25 April 2010. (Registered 5 August 2010)Received £23,000, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Thomas Cooper and Stibbard LLP. Hours: 46 hrs carried out between 26 February 2010 and 26 March 2010. (Registered 5 August 2010)Received £3,250, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reed Smith LLP, 20th Floor, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Hong Kong.. Hours: 6.5 hrs carried out on 14 December 2009. (Registered 5 August 2010)Received £114,750, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: direct instructions. Hours: 229.5 hrs between 16 January and 11 August 2010 (Registered 14 September 2010)Received £500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Tower Bridge House, St Katharine’s way, London E1W 1AA.. Hours: 1 hr on 3 March 2010 (Registered 14 September 2010)Received £13,917, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Flint Bishop LLP St Michael’s Court, St Michael’s Lane, Derby De1 3HQ. Hours: 37 hrs between 3 September 2009 and 15 March 2010 (Registered 28 September 2010)Received £5,000, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Richards Butler in association with Reed Smith LLP, 20th Floor, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Hong Kong. Hours: 10 hrs carried out between 5 September 2010 and 7 September 2010. (Registered 11 November 2010)Received £500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Tower Bridge House, St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1AA. Hours: 1 hr carried out on 3 March 2010. (Registered 11 November 2010)Received £28,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HT. Hours: approximately 57 hrs carried out between 30 July 2010 and 5 August 2010. (Registered 7 January 2011)Received £8,050, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Clyde & Co. LLP, 51 Eastcheap, London EC3M 1JP. Hours: approximately 18 hrs carried out between 15 March 2010 and 30 March 2010. (Registered 7 January 2011)Received £49,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: More Fisher Brown LLP, 45 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AE. Hours: 99 hrs carried out between 24 June 2010 and 25 September 2010. (Registered 7 January 2011)Received £265,125, exclusive of VAT, for legal and arbitration services provided. Solicitors: direct instructions. Hours: 530.25 hours carried out between 24 April 2009 and 4 November 2010. (Registered 17 February 2011)Received £8,125, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Thomas Cooper, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1HA. Hours: 16.25 hours carried out between 26 March 2010 and 30 April 2010. (Registered 17 February 2011)Received £3,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Kennedys, 25 Fenchurch Avenue, London EC3M 5AD. Hours: 7 hrs carried out on 9 August 2010. (Registered 24 March 2011)Received £500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: MFB, Fishmongers’ Chambers, 1 Fishmongers Hall Wharf, London EC4R 3AE. Hours: 1 hr carried out on 24 September 2010. (Registered 24 March 2011)Received £65,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HT. Hours: 131 hours carried out between 15 October 2010 and 12 January 2011. (Registered 20 April 2011)Received £10,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: More Fisher Brown LLP, 45 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AE. Hours: 21 hrs carried out between 13 October 2010 and 11 November 2010. (Registered 26 May 2011)Received £900, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reed Smith LLP, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2RS. Hours: 2 hrs carried out on 2 November 2010. (Registered 26 May 2011)Received £51,775, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reed Smith LLP, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2RS. Hours: 109 hrs carried out between 23 March 2009 and 9 December 2009. (Registered 26 May 2011)Received £18,615, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Direct Instructions. Hours: approximately 37 hrs carried out between 4 December 2010 and 2 February 2011. (Registered 26 May 2011)Received £4,775, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Holman Fenwick & Willan LLP, Friary Court, 65 Crutched Friars, London EC3N 2AE. Hours: approximately 11 hrs carried out between 22 October 2008 and 12 November 2008. (Registered 26 May 2011)Received £2,000, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Kennedys, 25 Fenchurch Avenue, London EC3M 5AD. Hours: 4 hrs carried out on 15 November 2010. (Registered 27 June 2011)Received £13,300, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Thomas Cooper, 11 Kanari Street, Kolonaki, 106 71 Athens, Greece. Hours: 26.6 hrs carried out between 20 December 2010 and 5 January 2011. (Registered 27 June 2011)Received £2,500, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Direct Instructions. Hours: 5 hrs carried out on 4 February 2011. (Registered 27 June 2011)Received £7,084, exclusive of VAT, for legal services provided. Solicitors: Reed Smith LLP, Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2RS. Hours: approximately 14 hrs carried out between 8 December 2010 and 2 January 2011. (Registered 27 June 2011)Crown Court Recorder.Received sitting fees of £3,652.63, net of tax and national insurance. Payer: Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ. Hours: 5 sitting days 18 January 2010 to 22 January 2010; 5 sitting days 1 March 2010 to 5 March 2010; 5 sitting days 21 February 2011 to 25 February 2011. (Registered 24 March 2011)Received £156.80, net of tax and national insurance. Payer: Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ. Hours: Judicial Seminar, 26 March 2011. (Registered 20 April 2011):0)

Tony Wood ● 5330d

Sorry Eric this site does not display the document.  Follow link in second posting.  I call 38 Degrees dishonest because they claim to be not connected with any political party.  Is 38 Degrees connected to a political party? Definitely not. We are not connected with any political parties, and are funded by donations from members. Our independence means that we can campaign on issues that we feel passionately about and that we decide on together. We are driven by issues and outcomes, and judge all politicians by the same standards.But, many of the people associated with 38 Degrees are members and candidates of Labour and Green parties.  They are a political organisation that is trying to kid the public they are not, hence dishonest.  I don't see 38 Degrees suing me any day soon.

Phil Taylor ● 5330d

No letter is displayed.'Dishonest' 38 Degrees. Strong words indeed.A meaningless post when no evidence is presented.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5330d

Apparently this website doesn't allow me to insert the document.  See here instead:http://philtaylor.org.uk/?p=5214

Phil Taylor ● 5330d