Branson is shameless to sue the NHS

SIR Richard Branson is suing the NHS after one of his firms, Virgin Care, failed to win a contract to provide health visitors, school nurses and speech therapy to children in Surrey. His decision is shameless. Despite saying he’s ‘hugely proud’ of the NHS, he must realise that his legal challenge will cost taxpayers a lot of money to defend and will take up valuable management time. No doubt, in sunny tax exile on his private Caribbean island of Necker, it seems good business sense to fight for the interests of one part of his empire. But he should consider its effect on the public purse in a time of austerity. Virgin is a major player in the healthcare business, with more than 400 NHS contracts. But if Branson truly values his reputation — and the NHS — he should back off.