Urgent - Amendment to Save the Health Secretary's Duty to Provide Healthcare

Please read this post by Jonathon Tomlinson on the proposed amendments being put before the House of Lords on the duty of the health secretary to provide healthcare. Then email your adopted lord and tell them. And don't give up now; it only takes an email for goodness sake, five minutes out of voting on X Factor or complaining about your Blackberry crashing. Do it.

Better to Light a Candle than Curse the Darkness

I have risen from the slough of despond that I went into, after the Health and Social Care Bill got passed through Parliament. I have adopted a Lord and I have been given an interesting choice. I'm not going to tell you his name, but the above picture should help you work out who it is.

So have you adopted a Lord yet? Here's something to encourage you if you haven't. This is the breakdown of the political parties in the House of Lords;

Conservative 218

Labour 240

Liberal Democrat 91

Crossbench 184

Bishops 24

Other 31

So it should be possible to stop this bill, if we all write. Go on. I know how we're all feeling just now, but it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Do it.

The Summer Soldier

These are the times that try mens’ souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be so highly rated.

I turn with the warm ardour of a friend to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better to have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but “show your faith by your works,” that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

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We are fighting with pens, not swords. We will not lose our lives as ordinary soldiers do. All we need to do is write. Can we not do that much? Can we not keep going? Are we going to give in to despair?

We lost in the Commons. We now march to the Lords. Adopt a Lord. Keep writing. Keep fighting. And keep the faith we need to save the NHS.