Luciana Berger gets 160 MPs on board in mental health funding plea to prime minister
Jewish MP urges the Theresa May to ring-fence funding, claiming money is 'not reaching the front-line'
A call from Labour MP Luciana Berger for the prime minister to ring-fence mental health spending has received the backing of 160 parliamentarians.
The Liverpool Wavertree MP, who was appointed Shadow Minister for Mental Health by Jeremy Corbyn before resigning in a failed coup, this week wrote to Theresa May, saying: “Money is not reaching the front-line.”
During last week’s Conservative Party conference, May said mental health had been “dangerously disregarded as a secondary issue to physical health” but Berger said May’s words were at odds with reality, arguing that Clinical Commissioning Groups were having to spend less on mental health this year due to cuts.
Writing on Monday ahead of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, Berger urged May to “commit your government to ring-fence mental health spending… There is precedent with other areas of NHS funding and this would be a transformative policy that would make a real difference to local services”.
With some areas allocating just six percent of their budget to mental health, Berger’s call drew the support of 160 MPs. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised that an extra £1.3 billion would be invested annually by 2021.
On the eve of #WMHD17 160 @UKLabour MPs have written to the PM to ask that mental health funding is ring-fenced. Now is the time for action. pic.twitter.com/R8IHd50Dm2
— Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) October 9, 2017
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
