TATTON health campaigners have called on George Osborne to stop the irreversible sell-off of the NHS.

Today (Friday July, 24)  the ‘No health sell-off’ campaign group, made up of Tatton residents, linked up with local scarecrow celebrations to raise public awareness of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an EU trade deal which could lead to the privatisation of the NHS.

The protest took place outside the Tatton Conservative office on Manchester Road with the newly designated ‘carecrows’ in place as well as a stall and a petition.

The campaigners rallied together in George Osborne’s constituency to raise awareness of the TTIP, a series of trade negotiations taking place between the EU and the USA.

Kevin Green local resident and member of People’s NHS said: “The people of Tatton want to ward-off the threat of the irreversible sell-off of our NHS.

“We are urging George Osborne to use his influence to demand that David Cameron uses his veto to get the NHS out of TTIP.

“Health campaigners and local communities across the UK have been taking a stand against the NHS being part of TTIP.

“Many Tory MPs are fully aware of the local opposition to the inclusion of the NHS in the deal. David Cameron has run out of excuses.

“He can protect the NHS by using his veto in Europe to get our health service out of the trade deal called TTIP. It’s time David Cameron put the NHS ahead of the interests of US corporations.”

The campaigners took to the streets to ask members of the public to sign the petition, causing mixed reactions amongst the authorities.

Cllr Hayley Wells-Bradshaw, a Cheshire East Councillor based at the Tory office, said: “We live in a democracy and everyone has the right to protest peacefully.

“I must praise the local police for their quick response this morning. With the RHS Flower show in town, additional traffic hold ups, due to protesters on the roads, had to be avoided.

“I am aware that this particular group has been in Knutsford for a few days, collecting signatures on a petition.

“I hope that feedback I have received of members of the group becoming aggressive to members of the public that have refused to sign their petition are exaggerated.

“As much as they have a right to protest, the residents, shoppers and traders in Knutsford have a right to go about their day without feeling threatened or intimidated.

“Our local PCSOs have been alerted and will be keeping a watchful eye on any further activities.”

However, Kevin has denied the claims of any aggression and ensures the public that they do not have to sign anything they do not believe in.

He said: “I don’t believe that to be true. I am sad that people would make that statement because that hasn’t happened.

“We asked people to sign. If they choose not to sign they do not have to sign. If they say ‘no’ we might ask are they happy for the NHS to be privatised.

“It has gone really well; we have had lots and lots of signatures from all over and we had lots of people tooting their horns as they drove past.

“We spoke to people at the Conservative office.. We were talking to them and there was absolutely no issue.”

As the campaign continues across the country, the Tatton campaigners have confirmed that there are not yet any plans in place for another petition, as they now hope to communicate with MP George Osborne to present the results.