Andy Burnham (Shadow Secretary of State for Health; Leigh, Labour)

That is why I say, Thank God for the people of Lewisham. The Government may well have got away with it if they had picked on a community that does not know how to fight like my hon. Friend's community. I say in all seriousness that they did a service for every community that is worried about its hospital services. That fight inspired everybody. He is right that the arrogance is breathtaking.

Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford, Labour)
I want to ensure that my hon. Friend does not end this part of his speech without reminding the House that one of the things that those involved in the TSA process intended to do was sell off half the land occupied by the buildings of Lewisham hospital and that was not in the public consultation document.

Jim Dowd (Lewisham West and Penge, Labour)
It is with some trepidation that I must disagree with my right hon. Friend. In fact, the figure was closer to two thirds of the estate. The scheme was so well engineered that they left the bit that we were keeping, allegedly, for whatever was going to be there (a glorified first aid post) completely landlocked. There was no access apart from via the River Ravensbourne, which is not the mode of transport favoured by most people using Lewisham hospital. Oh yes, it was all worked out well beforehand.