Green Party

Government should 'buy back' PFI hospitals, say Greens

The NHS could save hundreds of millions of pounds if the government were to "buy back" hospitals funded under the controversial private finance initiative pushed through by Gordon Brown, according to the Green party.

Adrian Ramsay, the deputy leader of the Greens, will use his keynote speech to the party conference tomorrow to argue that ending costly PFI contracts could help the Treasury recoup millions.

Ramsay's comments will form part of a wider attack against "creeping privatisation" as the Greens seek to spell out their commitment to public services.

The deputy leader will accuse Labour of "betraying" the founding principles of the NHS through its "privatisation agenda", and round on the Tories following the "insulting remarks" expressed by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan about the NHS on US television.

"We need to stand up for the NHS, and not just in debates about US healthcare," he is expected to say.

"Greens will ensure that the NHS remains public, with good quality services available locally to all, and public money supporting public servants to provide a public service."