Lanarkshire profonde

In deepest darkest Lanarkshire, a bitter battle is being waged by three luminaries of the Labour movement. The Herald reports:

"A POLITICAL backlash erupted last night after ministers axed a hospital accident and emergency unit serving one of Scotland's poorest communities. Labour politicians led the attack against the decision to reduce emergency care at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie to a minor injuries service...
John Reid, Home Secretary and MP for Airdrie and Shotts, was among the first to condemn Mr Macdonald's announcement. He said: "It is extremely disappointing that Lewis Macdonald has failed to see sense and overturn the flawed decision of NHS Lanarkshire to close the Monklands Hospital accident and emergency department. "NHS Lanarkshire conspicuously failed to take into account issues of social and health inequality in making their original decision. By endorsing that decision Lewis MacDonald has not only ignored these important factors but also the opinions of almost 50,000 people in North Lanarkshire, who signed a petition in support of Monklands A&E."

Even allowing for his constituency interest, the decision by a leading Westminster politician to attack a party colleague at Holyrood in such terms reveals the strength of feeling. The Herald also reveals the quandary of Mr Macdonald:

"However the debate in Lanarkshire, which is also home to the Wishaw constituency of First Minister Jack McConnell, has been particularly tense. One political spokesman told The Herald that there was no way a junior health minister was going to overturn NHS Lanarkshire's decision if it meant that he would have to tell Mr Kerr or Mr McConnell he wanted to close a hospital service in their constituency. He said: "It has been a stitch-up from start to finish."

By such considerations of the public good do our enlightened leaders decide what is best for you and me. The issue will remain a running sore for Labour up to and beyond next May's elections.