Fury as doctor behind strike action appears to call Brexit voters racist
A DOCTOR behind strike action appeared to call Brexit voters racist and accused the Tories of “enabling pond life”.
Mike Henley, the deputy chairman of the Consultants Committee and a member of the BMA, made the remarks in response to a pronoun debate on Twitter.
He wrote: “In the same way that Brexit enabled racists, the Tory leadership contenders falling over themselves to ‘wage war on woke’ is enabling another section of pond life.”
He also said the UK had been “manipulated into Brexit by Russian influence and money to destabilise Europe”.
Tory MP Ben Bradley called the Derby-based NHS surgeon’s comments “utterly disgraceful”.
Fellow Tory Paul Bristow, who is on the Health Select Committee, accused the BMA of being “more interested in knocking the Government than getting a fair and reasonable pay award”.
He added: “They should call off the strike, negotiate in good faith and prioritise patient care.”
It comes after consultants on an average salary of £128,000 voted to strike for a 35 per cent pay rise.
Senior hospital doctors in England will walk out on July 20 and 21.
Junior doctors will walk out from July 13 to 18.
Last night the BMA claimed the comments, made last year, were not calling Brexit voters racist or saying Tories were “pond life”.
It said its focus on fixing pay and “not being diverted to discussing personal and often historic activity on social media sites”.