Actor Michael Sheen has delivered an impassioned speech in defence of the NHS, attacking politicians who are afraid to stand up for the health service.
View this video on YouTube
Sheen delivered the speech at the People's March for the NHS in Tredegar, South Wales, on Sunday.
Storming speech from @michaelsheen at the People's March for the NHS in Tredegar! @peoplesvote4nhs
The actor also channelled NHS founder Aneurin Bevan, who was born in Tredegar, by quoting Bevan talking of his "deep hatred for the Tory party".
@michaelsheen @NickSmith4BG @IrrancaDaviesMP Tredegar did itself proud today. Birthplace of the NHS #999NHSTredegar.
Sheen led the march through the town centre before speaking to the crowd.
In the park, Michael Sheen leading the way. "NHS not for sale" rings out
Around 300 people turned out to hear his speech, according to the South Wales Argue. But tens of thousands of people have already watched a recording of it on YouTube.
People on the internet are absolutely loving it.
@michaelsheen awesome speech at #thewaleswewant thank you so much x
Phwoar. That last RT has lead to me having a proper swoon over Michael Sheen. What beautiful, righteous fury.
And it seems he could have a political career if he wanted it.
Michael Sheen needs to do a Glenda Jackson and give up acting for politics. I’d move to Wales just to vote for him.
@chris_AMx @michaelsheen if Michael sheen was my local mp I 'd vote for him every time for the rest of my life!futurepm?
Read Sheen's full speech below:
This [Aneurin Bevan] was a man who publicly stated that "no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory party".
In today's political climate, where politicians are careful, tentative, scared of saying what they feel for fear of alienating a part of the electorate ... under the excuse of trying to appear electable ... all parties drift into a morass of bland neutrality. The real deals, the real values, we suspect, are kept behind closed doors.
Is it any wonder that people feel there is very little to choose between?
Bevan said, "We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road – they get run down." When people are too scared to say what they really mean, when they're too careful to speak from their hearts, when integrity is too much of risk, it's no surprise that people feel disengaged with politics. There is never an excuse to not speak up for what you think is right. You must stand up for what you believe. But first of all, my god, believe in something.
There are plenty out there who believe in grabbing as much as they can for themselves, who are constantly sniffing around for markets to exploit, for weakness to expose. They won't say it of course. They're too smart for that. Nobody says they want to get rid of the NHS. Everyone praises it across all parties – it's about as powerful a symbol of goodness as we have. It would be dangerous not to. But for decades now, there has been a systematic undermining of its core values. This is beyond party politics. The Labour government arguably did as much damage to the NHS as any Tory or coalition [government].
This is about who we want to be as a nation and what we believe is worth fighting for. Too many people have given too much and fought too hard for us to give away what they achieved and to be left with so very little. To those across the whole party-political spectrum – and to anyone in any position of power or authority – I ask you to search your heart and look at who and what you serve.
To those who have discarded all principles, save that of all profit beyond all else; to those who have turned their back on the very idea of a truly democratic society and aligned themselves to nothing but self-interest; to those who have betrayed the vision of equality and justice and compassion for all, that vision that provided the crucible from which came forth the National Health Service ... I say to you, as Aneurin Bevan said in Trafalgar Square in 1956...:
"You have besmirched the name of Britain. You have made us ashamed of the things of which formerly we were proud. You have offended against every principle of decency, and there is only one way you can even begin to restore your tarnished reputation: Get out, get out, get out!"