MP to rebel on hospital vote
Labour rebels could force the Government to hold a public inquiry into the poor standards of care at Stafford Hospital if they vote with opposition MPs tonight.
A special debate in the House of Commons will seek to try and force Ministers to rethink their refusal to hold an inquiry into what happened at the hospital in the run up to the investigation by the Healthcare Commission.
The debate, organised by the Conservatives, will involve a whipped vote meaning MPs will be ordered to vote in line with their party line. Labour MPs will be told to vote against an inquiry but 19 have already signed a motion calling for one to be held.
Stafford MP David Kidney today confirmed he would be voting against the party whip putting himself at risk of disciplinary action.
Campaigners from Cure the NHS, led by Stafford woman Julie Bailey, will be meeting with Labour MPs ahead of the crucial debate, which will start at 7pm, to try and persuade them to vote for an inquiry.
With enough Labour rebels the vote for an inquiry could be successful and Ministers would struggle to ignore the will of Parliament.
On Friday it emerged former chief executive Martin Yeates had finally resigned from Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust after being suspended on full pay for two months.
He has never answered questions about the Healthcare Commission report and has now avoided any disciplinary action.
Julie Bailey said: "This only strengthens the need for a public inquiry. The only way Martin Yeates will be held to account for his decisions is if he is called to give evidence to an inquiry under oath."
She said: "There will be 18 of us going by coach to London and we will be meeting with MPs to try and persuade them to vote for an inquiry. I am very confident, I just feel it in my waters. This community will not be able to move forward until we know what happened."
David Kidney told the Express & Star: "This will be a whipped vote but I will be voting for an inquiry as I have got to represent the views of my constituents. The party will have to decide whether to discipline me or not.
"I have spoken to a number of Labour MPs who have supported the call for an inquiry but I don't know how many of them will hold their nerve."
He added: "I don't know if the Conservatives will win the vote but it is good to have the debate and there is a strong case for an inquiry."
Stone MP Bill Cash was preparing for the debate over the weekend and has previously argued for a full public inquiry.
