Michael Sheen's rousing St David's Day speech about the importance of the NHS

The actor spoke about the importance of standing up for what you believe

Michael Sheen delivered a powerful speech about the importance of preserving the NHS at Tredegar on St David's Day (Tracey Paddison/Rex Features)

Michael Sheen boomed his disapproval of NHS privatisation at a St David's Day march in Tredegar, South Wales, on Sunday.

Speaking against the Conservative Party's austerity cuts to the British health service, actor Sheen bellowed that it was a far cry from the original passion that underpinned the NHS at its birth and praised its architect, Nye Bevan.

"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," Sheen said. "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.'"