LABOUR shadow health secretary Andy Burnham will unite with the People’s March for the NHS from Jarrow to London today.

Fifty marchers set off from Jarrow in north-east England on August 16, cheered by 2,000 well-wishers, and they will arrive in Bedford today after walking from Northampton.

The campaigners, following the route of the 1936 Jarrow Cursade marchers, will highlight concerns over the future of NHS services in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

There will be a rally at 6pm at Harpur Square. Speakers will include Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who will also walk part of the route with the marchers. 

Bedford co-ordinator for the march Steve Sweeney, a former health worker and currently GMB regional officer, said: “The march is highlighting the devastating impact of government policy which has seen privatisation, closure of vital services and underfunding in the most dramatic changes in NHS history. 

“We believe that the government is hell bent on destroying the NHS. In Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes services are under threat.

“This is nothing to do with improving services, but is a result of a financially driven exercise and Tory ideology.

“We have been working together closely with campaigners from Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes who oppose any plans to close or downgrade services. We are calling on the public to come and show support for the marchers and join the campaign to defend local services.”

Tomorrow the marchers head for Luton and will arrive in London on Saturday. 

Mr Burnham added: “It is incredible what they are doing.”

The marchers are passing through 23 towns and cities, and thousands of supporters have joined different legs of the route.