‘I find it difficult to disagree!’ Nigel Farage praises Keir Starmer for scrapping NHS England as PM could face ‘left-rebellion’
Nigel Farage has praised Keir Starmer’s bold decision to scrap NHS England, expressing rare agreement with the Labour Prime Minister’s approach to healthcare reform.
The Reform UK leader said he found it “quite difficult to disagree with a lot of what’s being said” regarding Starmer’s announcement to abolish the arms-length body
The Prime Minister revealed that he would be bringing the NHS “back into democratic control” by scrapping NHS England.
The move aims to cut bureaucracy and redirect vital funds to frontline services, putting “the NHS back at the heart of government where it belongs.”
The Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls told GB News: “You listed some of the things Keir Starmer has said he’s going to do recently.
“Of course, there was a big NHS England announcement today. But you’ve also had a civil service crackdown, pushing out those who are not doing enough work. You combine that with welfare.
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“You combine that with slashing the international aid budget to fund a big defence boost. I think it’s starting to feel as though Keir Starmer is doing what the Tories did not dare or feel brave enough to do during their very long period in office.
“Certainly, looking at Keir Starmer today, you’ll have some Labour MPs on the left who are very uncomfortable, but I think just as uncomfortable perhaps even more so are other Tory MPs and former Tory advisers watching on and thinking, ‘Wait a minute, isn’t this what we were meant to be doing?’
Nigel Farage said: “I find it quite difficult to disagree with a lot of what’s being said today.
“Whether they actually deliver it is another thing. And Katie, the other thought on this: you know, it was interesting.
“There were a couple of Labour MPs who got up at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, not particularly happy with their party leader and prime minister.
“You know, welfare cuts in the wind, all those things. But he’s got such a big majority. Is a left-wing rebellion really going to be that significant to him?
“I think the view in Number 10 is that they have the numbers to face this down. And also, there is a need to now consider Keir Starmer’s positioning.
“This is linked to Ukraine and uncertainty in the world. But the truth is, even without Putin, Zelensky, or Trump, Rachel Reeves does not have economic growth.
“She can’t really raise taxes much more. And therefore, we’re in a situation where it looks like there will be more cuts, because the markets also don’t want to lend the UK much money.
“I think that means that it’s a question of whether they think they can push it through, but also whether they can afford not to, for a few reasons. I think you could see a big rebellion on welfare.”
The government claims the move will save “hundreds of millions of pounds a year” that will be “reinvested in frontline services.”
“That money could and should be spent on nurses, doctors, operations, GP appointments,” Starmer emphasised.