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Boris Johnson rebuked over NHS cash plea Boris Johnson rebuked over NHS cash plea
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has called for discussions about future NHS funding to remain private after Boris Johnson publicly called for more money after Brexit.Theresa May has called for discussions about future NHS funding to remain private after Boris Johnson publicly called for more money after Brexit.
Before Tuesday's cabinet meeting, it was widely reported that the foreign secretary would pitch for a £100m a week "Brexit dividend" for the NHS.Before Tuesday's cabinet meeting, it was widely reported that the foreign secretary would pitch for a £100m a week "Brexit dividend" for the NHS.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said he did not mention "specific figures".The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said he did not mention "specific figures".
No 10 said Mrs May chaired a discussion on post-Brexit funding options but made clear conversations should be private.No 10 said Mrs May chaired a discussion on post-Brexit funding options but made clear conversations should be private.
The BBC's political editor said the PM's remarks on the subject were "pointed".The BBC's political editor said the PM's remarks on the subject were "pointed".
And in a further rebuff to Mr Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond said he had given the NHS an extra £6bn in November's Budget, telling reporters Mr Johnson was "the foreign secretary" not health secretary.And in a further rebuff to Mr Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond said he had given the NHS an extra £6bn in November's Budget, telling reporters Mr Johnson was "the foreign secretary" not health secretary.
Arriving for a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, Mr Hammond said the right time to revisit the issue of NHS spending was at the next departmental spending review. Arriving for a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, Mr Hammond said the right time to revisit the long-term issue of NHS spending was at the next departmental spending review early next year.
Mr Johnson had been reported to be planning to use Tuesday's cabinet meeting - in which Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt gave ministers a routine update on how the NHS is coping with winter pressures - to kick start a wider debate about NHS funding and warn his party against "abandoning the territory" to Labour. Mr Johnson had been reported to be planning to use Tuesday's cabinet meeting - in which Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt gave an update on the "significant" winter pressures" facing the NHS - to kick start a wider debate about NHS funding and warn his party against "abandoning the territory" to Labour.
If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here.If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here.
A source close to Mr Johnson said he was frustrated at what he perceived as Downing Street's lack of action on the issue given the levels of public anxiety about how the NHS is faring.A source close to Mr Johnson said he was frustrated at what he perceived as Downing Street's lack of action on the issue given the levels of public anxiety about how the NHS is faring.
According to The Times newspaper the extra money would be a "Brexit dividend". The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said neither Mr Johnson nor any other minister raised a specific figure during what No 10 said was a "wide ranging and constructive" hour-long discussion.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the comments before the cabinet meeting would not go down well - because discussions are supposed to be kept private for the cabinet. But a No 10 spokesman said Mrs May and "a large number of Cabinet ministers" made clear that Cabinet discussions should take place in private.
He added it will also fuel those within the Conservative Party who think there is a lack of ambition, bold thinking and radicalism under Theresa May. Downing Street said the PM reminded ministers that the government has repeatedly said contributions to the EU budget which end after Brexit would be able to be spent on domestic priorities including the NHS.
Other Leave-supporting cabinet ministers such as Environment Secretary Michael Gove are understood to share Mr Johnson's point of view. "There will also be other calls upon that money but we will discuss those priorities at that time," a spokesman said, adding the extra money found at the Budget reflects the fact the NHS is "one of the top priorities".
It said other factors which had to be taken into account including the results of efficiency reviews within the NHS and the integration of health and social care provision.
During the referendum campaign, Vote Leave claimed £350m went to the EU each week and money could instead go to the NHS.During the referendum campaign, Vote Leave claimed £350m went to the EU each week and money could instead go to the NHS.
Another cabinet minister told the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg that "everyone says privately that something has to change - we have to offer a reason why we should run it, not just be in a bidding war with the Labour Party".Another cabinet minister told the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg that "everyone says privately that something has to change - we have to offer a reason why we should run it, not just be in a bidding war with the Labour Party".
It is understood that Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson have not had a direct conversation about the latter's planned intervention. A source close to Mr Hunt said, "as always, you would expect the health secretary to be arguing for more money for his department and discussions are ongoing".
But a source close to Mr Hunt said, "as always, you would expect the health secretary to be arguing for more money for his department and discussions are ongoing".
As recently as the end of November, Mr Hammond said he would give the NHS in England an extra £2.8bn in cash right in next two years along with £3.5bn in long-term capital funding.As recently as the end of November, Mr Hammond said he would give the NHS in England an extra £2.8bn in cash right in next two years along with £3.5bn in long-term capital funding.
But growing numbers of Conservative MPs from different wings of the party are openly expressing their frustration with Number 10's handling of the NHS winter pressures.But growing numbers of Conservative MPs from different wings of the party are openly expressing their frustration with Number 10's handling of the NHS winter pressures.
They are particularly concerned about Prime Minister Theresa May's response to calls for a cross-party commission to tackle the long-term challenges of facing the health service.They are particularly concerned about Prime Minister Theresa May's response to calls for a cross-party commission to tackle the long-term challenges of facing the health service.
One senior Tory MP told the BBC: "We all know the problem - it is at the centre. There is no decision making."One senior Tory MP told the BBC: "We all know the problem - it is at the centre. There is no decision making."
A Number 10 source said: "We gave the NHS top priority in the last Budget with an extra £2.8bn. We know it is under particular pressure at this time of year."
For Labour, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said he welcomed calls for more funding but accused Mr Johnson of seeking to "weaponise" the NHS for his own "tedious political games".For Labour, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said he welcomed calls for more funding but accused Mr Johnson of seeking to "weaponise" the NHS for his own "tedious political games".
"If the government was really serious about putting money into the NHS, they would have done it in the Budget last autumn," he told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show."If the government was really serious about putting money into the NHS, they would have done it in the Budget last autumn," he told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show.
"We did not hear a peep from him then. It is all about Boris Johnson.""We did not hear a peep from him then. It is all about Boris Johnson."
Labour, he said, would put up corporation tax and income tax for the highest-earners to pay for more NHS funding.
The Lib Dems said Boris Johnson was "only out to promote Boris Johnson" while the foreign secretary was also criticised by former Conservative minister Anna Soubry.
Meanwhile, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has said the UK will almost certainly have to increase the share of income devoted to health funding to deal with demographic challenges.Meanwhile, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has said the UK will almost certainly have to increase the share of income devoted to health funding to deal with demographic challenges.
In an article for the Times newspaper, its director Paul Johnson said "that will mean higher taxes" and "governments will need to explain that honestly".In an article for the Times newspaper, its director Paul Johnson said "that will mean higher taxes" and "governments will need to explain that honestly".