Chris Philp, Croydon South’s new MP, at his surgery in Waddon this morning accepted a residents’ petition opposing TTIP – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – and pledged that he would oppose the proposals.

Chris Philp, Croydon South’s MP (centre), receiving the TTIP petition from campaigners this morning

Accused by War on Want of being “An assault on European and US societies by transnational companies”, the secret TTIP negotiations between the United States and European Union bureaucrats are seen as seeking to reduce regulatory barriers to trade for big business on things like food safety, environmental legislation and banking regulations.

TTIP would make it possible – almost compulsory – for the British Government to sell-off parts of the NHS to American health companies.

Campaigning group 38 Degrees has so far collected 3.2 million signatures to a petition calling on MPs, MEPs and other elected representatives to oppose the secretive TTIP stitch-up; 558 of them were from Croydon South, presented to Tory MP Philp today.

Philp told campaigners this morning that he would himself vote against TTIP having the power to force a compulsory privatisation of NHS services, although he added that he did not believe that the finalised proposals will allow for this.

He also said that he feels the EU could stop TTIP allowing America’s more permissive laws on genetically modified crops being allowed in Europe.

• For more on the 38 Degrees petition and TTIP, click here

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