Wes Streeting ‘100% behind’ Starmer and says Corbyn supporters should ‘dry their eyes’ after ‘shipwreck’ leadership
Supporters of Jeremy Corbyn should “dry their eyes” and accept his leadership was a “shipwreck”, according to Wes Streeting, who has defended Labour’s “tight” spending plans.
Speaking on Beth Rigby Interviews… the shadow health secretary rejected claims his party’s offer on the NHS is too similar to the Conservative government’s but refused to give a financial commitment as the next election approaches.
Politics live: Climate protesters interrupt Starmer’s big speech
He acknowledged there is “frustration” when Labour is pressed to outline its spending plans but “the answer is either no or not yet confirmed”.
“But that’s because we are absolutely determined, both to rebuild trust in politics, but also to rebuild stability in the public finances,” Mr Streeting said.
Labour has promised to build an NHS “fit for the future” with a focus on reforms and prevention.
Steve Barclay, the current Tory health secretary, has also said the health service should “evolve” to focus on prevention – amid warnings it is in “critical condition” and may not make its 100th anniversary in 2048.
But Mr Streeting said “shoot me now” when it was put to him that Labour’s focus on reform over funding sounded similar to what’s on offer from the Conservatives.
“Look, funding’s important, but it’s not always just about spending more money,” he said.
“Steve Barclay’s talking as if he’s just walked in off the street taken over the Department of Health and decided he’s got a reform agenda. They’ve been in power for 13 years. Where is it?”
Mr Streeting went on to admit that it’s “tough for shadow cabinet members like me who have to follow these tight fiscal rules”, amid criticism from some within the party that Labour’s spending plans are not ambitious enough.
But he said he is “100% behind” Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves “when they’re making those tough calls”.
He told Beth Rigby: “One of the reasons why we have lost not just the last two general elections, but the last four general elections, was because people said, can we trust you with the money?
“What you are seeing from Keir and Rachel, and the rest of our team, is that we are going to be careful with the public finances because Liz Truss and the Conservative Party shows exactly what happens when you go on a spending spree without any idea about how you’ll pay for your promises.”
Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting
Corbyn years ‘a shipwreck’
Sir Keir and Ms Reeves have been working to show that Labour is fiscally responsible.
The pair have largely avoided making large spending commitments – drawing a firm line under the economic arguments of the Corbyn years.
Last month, Ms Reeves watered down Labour’s flagship £28bn green prosperity plan, blaming rising interest rates and the “damage” the Conservatives have done to the economy.
However, critics saw it as the latest U-turn, with Sir Keir previously backing away from leadership pledges to abolish tuition fees, nationalise public utilities, scrap Universal Credit and increase income tax for the top 5% of earners.
The Labour leader was interrupted on Thursday by climate protesters angry about the climate fund U-turn, while he was trying to give a speech on the party’s plans for overhauling education.
But Mr Streeting dismissed left-wing critics who might feel “betrayed” by Sir Keir backtracking on promises he made to Labour members in order to win the party’s leadership contest in 2020.
“Well, I’m afraid they have to dry their eyes and be glad of the fact that we might finally, after 13 years, get this Conservative government out and have a Labour government able to change our country once again,” he told Sky News.
He also said it was “extraordinary” for former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, to use a recent BBC interview to accuse Sir Keir Starmer of being “drunk with power”.
Mr Streeting said: “To be honest I thought that was extraordinary. I thought it was extraordinary, because, what Keir has done is take the Labour Party from its worst defeat since 1935, when we weren’t trusted on a whole range of issues, and where people had been bullied and hounded out of the Labour Party, not least through the issue of antisemitism.
“And he has taken that absolute shipwreck that the Labour Party was in 2019, and now made it seaworthy, and I hope on course for a general election victory.”
You can watch the full discussion with Wes Streeting on Beth Rigby Interviews at 9pm tonight on Sky News.
Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.
Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation
The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.
MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.
The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.
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MPs debate assisted dying
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.
Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.
On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”
She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”
Bill about ‘choice and dignity’
Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.
Kim Leadbeater: PA
Read More:
Two people reveal contrasting views on assisted dying
Five stories that bring the assisted dying debate home
She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.
This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.
The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.
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