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.”

Sir Keir Starmer will say Britain stands at a fork in the road as he pits Labour against Reform in his conference closing speech.

The prime minister will use his address at 2pm on Tuesday to say the UK can choose decency or division, renewal or decline, be in control of the future or succumb “to the politics of grievance”.

“It is a test,” he is expected to tell the second autumn Labour conference of his premiership.

“A fight for the soul of our country, every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war, and we must all rise to this challenge.

“And yet we need to be clear that our path, the path of renewal, it’s long, it’s difficult, it requires decisions that are not cost-free or easy. Decisions – that will not always be comfortable for our party.”

Sir Keir will say “at the end of this hard road there will be a new country”, which he will put forward as fairer and “a land of dignity and respect”.

He will promise that everybody will be seen and valued, wealth will be created “in every community”, and working people will be in control of public services.

The “mindless bureaucracy that choked enterprise” will be removed “so we can build and keep on building”, the PM will pledge.

He will say that he believes Britain “can come together” despite people telling him it cannot.

“We can pursue a shared destination,” he is expected to say.

“We can unite around a common good. That’s my ambition, the purpose of this government. End decline, reform our public services, grow our economy from the grassroots.”

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The conference has been dominated by a sharpening of language and policies in reaction to Reform, which has been leading in the polls for a while.

The latest Ipsos poll, published on Sunday, had the two parties neck and neck, with 38% saying they would prefer a Labour government led by Sir Keir and 35% for Reform led by Nigel Farage.

Ahead of Sir Keir’s final speech, cabinet members will also address the conference.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Health Secretary Wes Streeting will all make speeches ahead of the PM.

On Monday, 10 cabinet ministers addressed the conference from the main stage, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who argued that Reform presents a threat to the British economy.