Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told the BMA doctors’ union to “pick a side” between Reform and Labour over their pay dispute.

Mr Streeting, talking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, said the Labour Party will always be on the side of the NHS, while Reform leader Nigel Farage would “check your credit card before your pulse”.

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In July, resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, went on strike over their pay and are threatening to strike again following years of walkouts under the previous Tory government.

In a preview of what his speech on Tuesday to the Labour Party conference will focus on, Mr Streeting said: “I’d say to the BMA, pick a side because you’ve got a choice here and there’s a government that wants to work with you.”

During a live recording of Electoral Dysfunction at the conference in Liverpool, he added: “What I’ve said to the BMA is the NHS is hanging by a thread, don’t pull it.

“It wouldn’t be in the interest of the BMA – there isn’t a more pro-doctor, pro-NHS government waiting in the wings.”

He mentioned Mr Farage’s plan to introduce health insurance, adding: “The BMA should really think about this in terms of their members.”

Mr Farage has also pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain and put in place a minimum salary of £60,000 for skilled worker visas.

The health secretary said that would be “shooting ourselves in the foot” when it comes to NHS staff.

“Farage says ‘go home’, the Labour Party says ‘this is your home and with us this will always be your home’,” he said.

Lib Dems are ‘frenemies’

Mr Streeting said he thinks there will be lots of disaffected Conservative voters who do not want to see Reform in government, and said they are “welcome to get behind us”.

He added some of those voters will support the Lib Dems, who he called “frenemies” of Labour – “some days they’re friends, some days they’re enemies” – but said “we have a common enemy in Reform”.

We need Burnham on the pitch

Mr Streeting also addressed the potential of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham challenging Sir Keir Starmer for his premiership.

He said he thought Mr Burnham claiming there is a “culture of fear” within the Labour Party “was an overstatement”.

Asked if the mayor is a team player, Mr Streeting said: “On his best days, yes.”

But he said recently “he’s had his ups and downs”.

However, he added: “I think the thing about Andy, he’s one of our star players, and we need him on the pitch.”

The White House has unveiled its peace plan for Gaza – which includes a senior role for Sir Tony Blair.

The 20-point plan was released by the US government just minutes before Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint news conference on Monday evening.

As it happened: Trump unveils peace plan

The plan states that if the fighting ends, Gaza will be placed under the control of a transitional government headed by Mr Trump and others, including former British prime minister Sir Tony.

The president described him as a “good man”, while the ex-Labour leader commended the “bold” plan.

It says Gaza will “be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours”, with no role for Hamas in its future governance, and will be “redeveloped for the benefit of” its people.

It also says nobody will be forced to leave Gaza and states there will be increased aid to the enclave. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza, it says.

The remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas must be released within 72 hours, the plan states. It says this will be followed by Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Read more: What we know about Trump’s plan

Speaking at the White House, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said to Mr Trump: “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims.”

“It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” he said.

Hamas said on Monday evening it only received the peace plan after it was unveiled at the White House.

It has said it cannot sign up to anything that does not include Palestinian self-determination, and has dismissed any disarmament so long as Israeli occupation of Gaza continues.

Adam Parsons analysis: Hamas’ first reaction is telling

Sir Keir Starmer said the initiative is “profoundly welcome” and he is “grateful” for Mr Trump’s leadership.

“We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza,” said the British prime minister.

“This is our top priority and should happen immediately.”

The Israeli foreign ministry earlier took a swipe at the UK for Labour Party members voting to accept Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which has placed pressure on the government to do the same.

“The world stands with the US and Israel in their efforts to end the war,” it said.

“Labour stands with Hamas. It is a disgrace for Britain that this is the party in power.”

Blair ‘a good man’, says Trump

The US president singled out Sir Tony for praise, labelling him a “good man” as he named him one of the political figures who would be on Gaza’s transitional governing body.

Mr Trump said “leaders that are very distinguished” would be on the board, adding: “And one of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former prime minister Tony Blair. Good man, very good man. And some others.”

Mr Trump said the body will be called the “Board of Peace”, with other members to be named in the coming days.

Sir Tony attended a meeting with Mr Trump and others to discuss the future of Gaza in August.

Read more:
Destruction of Gaza hospital witnessed by nurse
Diplomats walk out as Israeli PM speaks at UN

Many in Labour won’t like it but Blair is an experienced Middle East power broker

Jon Craig

Chief political correspondent

@joncraig

Blair has been one of the “key architects” of the peace plan, including visiting the White House in recent months.

His history in the Middle East – the invasion of Iraq in 2003 – hangs over him, but the former PM does have experience in the area.

Going back to the 1990s, nearly 30 years ago, he was involved in talks with PLO leader Yasser Arafat and others to try to bring peace to the Middle East.

When he left Number 10 in 2007, he became a Middle East envoy for what was known as the quartet – the EU, US, Russia and the United Nations.

He gets on well with Benjamin Netanyahu – that’s another crucial factor.

While many in Labour will not be happy with Blair’s involvement, it is clear to see why the likes of Netanyahu and Trump will approve of it.

This is because Blair is an experienced negotiator and power broker in the region.

Think back to the Good Friday Agreement, his role in Kosovo and Sierra Leone – he’s always wanted to tackle these seemingly intractable international problems.

After resigning as prime minister in 2007, Sir Tony was appointed as the international community’s special envoy to the Middle East with the goal of helping develop the Palestinian economy and institutions in order to prepare the groundwork for a Palestinian state.

However, he struggled to deliver dramatic changes in the role and resigned in 2015.

In a statement issued after the White House’s announcement, Sir Tony said the US plan is “bold and intelligent”.

“It offers us the best chance of ending two years of war, misery, and suffering and I thank President Trump for his leadership, determination and commitment,” he said.

World leaders welcome Trump’s plan

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt welcomed the plan.

The ministers – along with their counterparts from Pakistan, Turkey, and Indonesia – said they were ready to cooperate positively with the US and other relevant parties.

Penn State coach James Franklin understands the continued focus on his big-game struggles, especially in the wake of Saturday’s overtime home loss to Oregon.

But Franklin can control how he views those games, and how he chooses to respond to the scrutiny. The Oregon loss dropped Franklin to 4-21 against AP top-10 opponents at Penn State, tied for the third-worst record by a head coach at a single school in the AP poll era.

“I try to answer the tough questions that you guys give,” Franklin told reporters Monday. “It’s not always easy to do. I wouldn’t say I enjoy this whatsoever, but I also understand you guys have got a job to do and these tough questions are going to come. I will also say that I’m not going to allow one loss to define our season. I’m not going to allow a few losses to define my career and what we have done here at Penn State, because although I don’t think a lot of people spend a ton of time on what we have done over our 12 years here.

“I get it. Nobody wants to hear this right now. There are a ton of positives.”

Franklin is 100-22 against non-top-10 foes at Penn State, and won 34 games in the previous three seasons. Last season, Penn State reached the Big Ten championship game for the first time since winning a title in 2016, and won its first two College Football Playoff games before falling to Notre Dame in the national semifinal.

Penn State dropped to No. 7 following the Oregon loss and visits winless UCLA on Saturday. The Nittany Lions could face consecutive top-10 opponents when they visit No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1, and then host No. 8 Indiana on Nov. 8.

Franklin cited inconsistency as a problem throughout the offense and noted how often Penn State was in third-and-long against Oregon. The Lions converted 6 of 15 third-down chances in the loss.

“You saw how we were structured last year in terms of how we would like to manage the offense and be able to run the ball, be able to stay ahead of the sticks, create manageable third-down situations, and also use that with the ability to go play-action pass and take shots down the field,” Franklin said. “Until you’re able to establish the running game, which we were able to do late in the game, which opened everything up from that point on, we have not been able to do it consistently.”

Franklin said Penn State’s sports information staff often sends him clips of how other coaches address tough losses, and that he doesn’t think those responses “would go over very well here.”

“Screaming, yelling, pointing fingers, we’re not going to do,” Franklin said. “Also, there is a part of making sure that I represent this program, this university the right way, and do it with class and integrity. That probably shows up in times like that more than other times. It’s not fun and easy when you care as deeply as we care.”