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Camden News - RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 23 October 2008

MP Frank Dobson

Team Camden urged to fight invasion of the private sector

MP Frank Dobson has told campaigners battling to stop private companies getting their hands on council housing, health services and schools: Be like running champ Usain Bolt.
The Olympic gold medallist should be an inspiration because he ultimately put his sprinting success down to teamwork, the Holborn and St Pancras MP said.
“Margaret Thatcher managed to get across to far too many people that if you are selfish, if we were all like that, we’d all be better off,” he said. “But scarcely anybody achieves anything as an individual. Every institute that works well is based on teamwork.
“You could even take Usain Bolt. He wins the 100 metres, 200 metres, he breaks both world records but when he comes off the track, he says: ‘I owe it to my coach, my physio, my mum for encouraging me’. If somebody in something as individualistic as the 100 metres sprint can see that you can’t do anything on your own, then it should be obvious to everyone else.”
Mr Dobson was speaking at a packed meeting of campaigners who fear public services are under threat across the board.
The Olympic analogy might have been simple but the Labour MP believes protesters fighting similar battles should unite and, in the poor economic conditions, fight any cuts to public services.
Anti-privatisation protesters are divided over whether the credit crunch should be the perfect platform to argue against the use of market forces in the public sector or a dangerous time when cuts are more likely.
Mr Dobson said: “I might have thought the current conditions would mean wider recognition of public services provided by public bodies and a little less worship of free marketeers, that lot in the City.
“If you are stinking rich you can a hire a tutor for your child, secure the exclusive services of a distinguished surgeon or hire security men to look after you. Most of us can’t do that. All we can do is work together to get the things we need, clubbing together as a society to provide a school or a GP service or a police service.”

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