NMC response to Rupert Lowe MP

For transparency, Mr Lowe MP’s letter and the Chair’s reply are published below in full. The NMC can confirm that following its internal investigation, no evidence has been found that anybody at the regulator disclosed confidential information to the Manchester Evening News or any other media.

Letter from Rupert Lowe MP to Ron Barclay-Smith

Mr Barclay-Smith,

I am writing to express my profound concern at the Nursing and Midwifery Council's inexplicable decision to publicly suspend Marlon West just days before the Greater Manchester mayoral election, in which Marlon is Restore Britain’s candidate.

The timing creates the unmistakable appearance of political interference - I note how the media were immediately made aware of the decision, despite it hiding deep on your organisation’s website. I can only hope nobody in the NMC was responsible for that.

Marlon has devoted three decades to serving patients across Greater Manchester in the NHS. He is a model professional, and has dedicated his career to helping those in need. As you will know, he is also the father of a daughter who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of a rape gang. He spent years fighting for this daughter. He was attacked, assaulted and left exhausted after searching for his daughter night after night. It left him physically and mentally broken.

I would urge you to put yourself in Marlon’s shoes for just one moment.

Few people have paid a higher personal price than Marlon for speaking out about this issue.

Marlon’s comments about Pakistani men taking part in industrial rape are objectively factual.

His view that Afghan immigration into Britain should be halted is a reasonable political opinion held by tens of millions of Brits - I certainly agree with him, it’s Restore Britain policy.

Your decision to suspend him over these legally held opinions shames your organisation, insults our supposed tradition of free speech, and deliberately interferes in a significant electoral event.

Very much an unwanted hat-trick, Mr Barclay-Smith.

I will be taking this up with the Secretary of Health, who has been copied into this letter.

I look forward to your full apology, appropriate compensation for Marlon and a prompt reinstatement of Marlon’s position.

Rupert Lowe MP

Reply from Ron Barclay-Smith to Rupert Lowe MP

Dear Mr Lowe

Thank you for your letter.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council recognises that everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. We do not take regulatory action simply because something a professional has said has caused offence or because they hold particular political views.

However, where the way a professional has expressed their views fundamentally calls into question their conduct, professionalism or fitness to practise, we have a duty to consider whether regulatory action is necessary in order to protect the public and maintain confidence in the professions we regulate.

We expect all nurses, midwives and nursing associates to act professionally and to treat people of all races and nationalities with dignity and respect, in line with the standards set out in our Code. 

Where it is alleged that a registrant has behaved in a way that represents a serious departure from those standards, we may investigate the concerns and, where appropriate, apply for an interim order to temporarily restrict their practice while the regulatory process continues.

The decision to seek an interim order is made independently of any political considerations. The timing of such applications is driven entirely by the regulatory process and reflects the latest information received and the most up-to-date risk assessment of the individual case. It is not influenced by electoral events or the political affiliations of those involved.

We also note your suggestion that the NMC was responsible for the media becoming aware of this decision. We do not share interim order decisions, or the reasons for those decisions, with the media. We follow strict information handling guidance, published on our website, which makes clear that we treat investigations as confidential. The reasons for an interim order are provided only to the relevant parties in the case. For completeness, we have also instigated a leak investigation to establish whether there has been any unauthorised disclosure of confidential information and to provide assurance that our information handling processes have been appropriately followed.

As this is an ongoing regulatory matter, it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the specific details of the case. 

I have copied my reply to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Minister of State for Secondary Care.

Yours sincerely

Ron Barclay-Smith
Chair of Council

Other recent news…