Harry Leslie Smith would never be allowed to give his NHS Speech to A Labour Party Led by Starmer.
In 2014, at the Labour Party conference, my dad, Harry Leslie Smith, gave, perhaps, the best speech by a non-politician- about why public healthcare is the bedrock for a functioning democracy and society.
“Today, we must be vigilant, we must be vocal, we must demand that the NHS will always remain an institution for the people and by the people. We must never let the NHS free from our grasp because if we do- your future will be my past. I am not a politician, a member of the elite, or a financial guru, but my life is your history - and we should keep it that way. So say it loud and clear in this hall and across this country: Tories keep your mitts off our NHS.”
In 2023, the contents of my dad's NHS speech would never be permitted to be spoken at a Labour Party Conference because it espoused socialism. It was a speech that championed a working class; who, although exploited- was thoughtful of the struggles of others.
It was a speech that repudiated capitalism as the panacea to maintain public infrastructure. It was a speech that championed more taxation for Britain's entitled class. And it was a speech that didn't patronise today's younger generation but acknowledged they had been short-changed by neo-liberalism.
It was a speech that wasn't superficial. It was a speech that, in 2023, does not jive with what Keir Starmer has done to the Labour Party.
My dad doesn't even exist as a memory to those in command of Labour today. Harry Leslie Smith was everything they are not. He was the real deal with no bullshit about him.
I knew Starmer's Labour had de-platformed my dad's legacy long ago. The city of Halifax despite having a Labour MP still won't put a blue plaque up acknowledging his life there. Maybe it is because he didn't become a millionaire from the sweat of the labour of other workers.
I don’t know but the penny dropped for me that Harry Leslie Smith was wiped from the party's history just like his entire generation struggles when, on the centenary of his birth in February, there was no acknowledgement of it. The MPs who clamoured to have selfies with my dad, during election cycles and some who secretly tried to have him join their coup against Corbyn couldn’t be arsed to tweet “Happy Birthday,”
The man who in 2014 was lionised in Britain’s news media as giving Labour its voice back is now a non-person for Labour's leadership.
It’s not sour grapes that I mention this but as a warning. Anyone who expects or says the NHS to be safe under a Starmer Labour government is being naïve or deliberately misleading people for their own ends.
On this 75th anniversary of the NHS, I know that were he alive, my dad would have broken ranks with this current Labour leadership and told them from every rooftop to get stuffed.
I know in 2023 the current Labour opposition does not endorse an NHS for and by the people, like my dad did. Maybe it is because they are not from our class, Maybe it is because they have better homes, vacations and generous healthcare benefits that allow them to sell us down the river and pretend it is for our betterment. The reasons don't matter so much anymore save to let us know we are on our own. We should not despair from this abandonment.
Remember, my dad's generation took what was theirs, from the 1%, in 1945 and built a Welfare State. If they could do it, then we can do it again. Listen to Harry Leslie Smith's recollections. Remember the hardships your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents endured and fight like hell to send every centrist packing because they are more dangerous to us than the Tories during an age of fascism.
As always, thank you for reading my sub stack posts Your subscriptions to Harry’s Last Stand keep the legacy of Harry Leslie Smith alive and me housed which is always a struggle during this cost of living crisis era. So if you can join with a paid subscription which is just 3.50 a month or a yearly subscription or a gift subscription. I promise the content is good, relevant and thoughtful. Take Care, John
Thanks John. Harry is more than a memory to those who met him, heard him speak or reads his words in your blog. The struggle continues!
I was pleased to see that The London Economic shared your father's moving speech on Facebook earlier today, John. It's not surprising that the establishment is scared that, no matter what they may do to try to erase him from history, his message and his books are still there as a warning to all of us who have never known life without the NHS. Thank you for continuing to keep his legacy alive.