Rishi Sunak mocks Keir Starmer using Mark Drakeford’s ’25yrs of failure’ for UK
Rishi Sunak clashes with Keir Starmer at PMQs over the NHS
Rishi Sunak mocked Sir Keir Starmer for previously saying he would use Mark Drakeford’s administration as a “blueprint” if he takes power during PMQs.
The Labour leader suggested the Prime Minister had forgotten about the NHS in his five new pledges unveiled this week.
He highlighted how cutting NHS waiting lists was one of his five original priorities but it had not been met.
But Mr Sunak hit back by taking aim at the Labour-run Welsh government’s record.
Sir Keir said: “This week the Prime Minister unveiled the latest version of his five pledges for the country.
“Let’s hope he has more success with these than the last ones – did he forget the NHS?”
Mr Sunak replied: “Just weeks after becoming Prime Minister, we injected record funding into the NHS and in social care.
“We also unveiled the first ever long-term workforce plan in the NHS’s 75-year history.
“But I’m pleased he mentioned the five pledges because as he knows three of them are economic.”
He said the Government had halved inflation, had grown the economy and reduced debt.
The Prime Minister added: “That’s a Conservative Government delivering for this country.”
The Labour leader then said: “The reason he ignored the NHS, not only in his new pledges but just now is because 7.8 million people are currently on the waiting lists.
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“That’s half-a-million more than when he pledged to bring them down nearly a year ago.
“And the Prime Minister just claimed that this is all about economic growth… If a labourer or care worker is forced to wait a year for an operation, how are they meant to help grow the economy?”
Mr Sunak replied: “We are doing an enormous amount to bring waiting lists down… expanding patient choice, rolling out new community diagnostic centres, new surgical hubs as well as putting more doctors and nurses in our wards.
“But I guess the question is when he talks about targets and waiting lists I really just hope that the Welsh Labour government aren’t listening because after 25 years in power they’re missing every single one of his targets. Weren’t they meant to be his blueprint?”
Sir Keir previously said Mr Drakeford’s administration was a “blueprint for what Labour could do across the UK”.
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