Watch Michael Sheen’s impassioned speech on NHS

The Hollywood star gave the impassioned performance as he took part in a rally in Tredegar, south Wales, on Sunday.

Speaking against the Conservative party’s austerity cuts, Sheen said that it was a a far cry from the passion that underpinned the NHS under Nye Bevan.

He said: “It was long -erm, it was far-reaching. Visionary in its scope and revolutionary in its effect. He [Bevan] had cast-iron integrity and a raging passion.

“This was a man who had no fear in standing up for what he believed in, and he made no bones about how he felt. This is a man who publicly stated: ‘No amount of cajolery, no attempt at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep, burning hatred for the Tory party.'”

‘Bland neutrality’

Sheen, who has played Tony Blair on screen twice, also attacked politicians from all parties for being too “careful, tentative, scared of saying what they feel for fear of alienating a part of the electorate”.

In his speech, Sheen was critical of a situation where, “under the excuse of trying to appear electable, all parties drift into a morass of bland neutrality and the real deals, the real values, we suspect, are kept behind closed doors”.

It was long-term, it was far-reaching. Visionary in its scope and revolutionary in its effect. He [Bevan] had cast-iron integrity and a raging passion. Michael Sheen

“When people are too scared to say what they really mean, when they’re too careful to speak from their hearts, when integrity is too much of a risk, it’s no surprise that people feel disengaged with politics,” he said.

“There is never an excuse to not speak up for what you think is right. You must stand up for what you believe, but first of all, by God, believe in something.”

‘Brilliant speech’

Many took to Twitter on Tuesday to heap praise on the Welshman, including Labour MP Diane Abbott, who posted a link to his “brilliant speech”.

Comedian Wil Anderson wrote: “If only politicians defended the people they represent with this sort of passion,” while musician Peter Hooton said Sheen “shows politicians how it’s done”.

Paul Evans, director of campaign group NHS Support Federation, said it was great to see someone with such a public profile discussing the issue.

He said: “It’s good to see somebody express an honest view on the NHS as it’s so constantly caught up in an atmosphere of political intrigue that often the public don’t get to see a clear view of what is happening.”