MEMBERS of the campaigning group 38 Degrees handed in a petition to MP Anne Marie Morris on Saturday in a bid to prevent privatisation of the NHS through a trade agreement.

A statement released by the group said: ‘This group calls on member states of the EU to stop negotiating with the US on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).’

This is not the first petition that has been handed in to the Newton Abbot MP, with Save Devon NHS handing one in earlier this month.

A spokesman for 38 Degrees said: ‘We told her how growing numbers of people both in the UK and on the continent are concerned that that large trade deals of this kind, while claiming to provide benefits for economic growth, actually endanger democratic decision making.’

The group explained to Ms Morris that they were firmly of the opinion that a town like Newton Abbot would be badly served by such deals.

In her column on Page 12 this week, Ms Morris says: ‘This is the trade deal currently being negotiated between the EU and the US.

‘There is concern that its terms and the powers given to partners of these trade deals may force privatisation of the NHS.

‘This is something neither I nor the government would accept.

‘This is a trade deal which is changing all the time along with the provisions for parties to later amend whatever deal is finally struck.

‘I have been following this moving agenda and raised constituent concerns with ministers.’