A couple of weeks ago I reiterated the position that I often take about the BMA – the one that reminds us all that in February 1948 over 90% of the BMA said that they, as doctors, would not be a part of the NHS. Then, in July of the same year over 90% of GPs joined.

My main reason for bringing this up was not to say that the BMA was against the NHS but rather to point out to contemporary politicians how feeble what appears to be the BMA's very powerful intransigence actually is – if you challenge them.