| The National Health Action Party has taken 20,210 votes in 12 constituencies in the 2015 General Election. But what does that mean for the party, and how do they compare to other parties both currently and historically? The Picture in England The National Health Action Party was the 7th most popular party in England: Party UK Candidates UK Votes Votes Per Candidate Conservative 648 11,334,920 17,492 Labour 631 9,347,328 14,813 UKIP 624 3,881,129 6,219 Liberal Democrat 631 2,415,888 3,828 Green 573 1,157,613 2,020 TUSC 135 36,327 269 National Health Action 12 20,210 1,684 Respect Party 4 9,989 2,497 CISTA 32 8,419 263 Yorkshire First 14 6,811 487 English Democrats 32 6,531 204 Monster Raving Loony Party 16 3,898 243 Christian Peoples Alliance 17 3,260 191 British National Party 8 1,667 208 Historical Comparisons The National Health Action Party has fared remarkably better than the Green Party and UKIP did in their first general elections. The party also gained a higher share of votes per candidate than the 1997 Referendum Party and the 2005 Veritas Party. NHA 2015 UKIP 1992 Green 1974 Labour 1895 Candidates 12 17 6 28 Total Votes 20,210 4,383 4,576 44,325 Votes Per Candidate 1,684 258 763 1,583 % Vote in Contested Seats 3.27% 0.53% 1.67% x Seats Won 0 0 0 0 Deposits Saved 16% 0 0 x NHA 2015 Veritas 2005 Referendum 1997 Candidates 12 65 547 Total Votes 20,210 40,607 810,860 Votes Per Candidate 1,684 624 1,482 % Vote in Contested Seats 3.27% 1.5% 3.1% Seats Won 0 0 0 Deposits Saved 16% 2% 7% NHA’s Future Despite an overall win for the Conservatives, the incoming government has a much smaller majority than the 363 seats won by the Coalition parties in 2010. While NHS cuts and austerity will continue, the Conservative government responsible will surely be in a weaker position. There will be a need for an ongoing popular movement against the Conservative government, to protect the NHS from cuts and privatisation. Poor Labour and Liberal Democrat results suggest they are failing to gain traction with the public, and neither party is offering to fight for sufficient NHS funding or renationalisation. The Green Party has amiable NHS policies, and we can hope that the SNP will act in a progressive manner. However, it falls to the NHA to be the most outspoken, the most knowledgeable, and the most passionate party in the fight for the NHS. |