This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68915259
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Chris Philp defends government NHS record after Dan Poulter defects to Labour | Chris Philp defends government NHS record after Dan Poulter defects to Labour |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Dan Poulter's defection to Labour questioned by Chris Philp | Dan Poulter's defection to Labour questioned by Chris Philp |
Dan Poulter's defection to Labour questioned by Chris Philp | Dan Poulter's defection to Labour questioned by Chris Philp |
A minister has defended the government's record on the NHS, after a former Conservative MP defected to Labour. | A minister has defended the government's record on the NHS, after a former Conservative MP defected to Labour. |
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Dr Dan Poulter said he could not look his NHS colleagues and patients in the eye and stay on as a Conservative MP. | In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Dr Dan Poulter said he could not look his NHS colleagues and patients in the eye and stay on as a Conservative MP. |
Home Office Minister Chris Philp denied the Tories were deprioritising the NHS. | Home Office Minister Chris Philp denied the Tories were deprioritising the NHS. |
He added that more was being spent on the health service than at any point in history. | He added that more was being spent on the health service than at any point in history. |
On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Dr Poulter, who works part time as a consultant psychiatrist, said the health service was now "unrecognisable" from how it was before he became an MP in 2010 and "patients deserve better". | On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Dr Poulter, who works part time as a consultant psychiatrist, said the health service was now "unrecognisable" from how it was before he became an MP in 2010 and "patients deserve better". |
The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich added that Labour had a "track record" of improving the NHS and could be "trusted" with the health service. | The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich added that Labour had a "track record" of improving the NHS and could be "trusted" with the health service. |
Conservative MP Dan Poulter defects to Labour | Conservative MP Dan Poulter defects to Labour |
Conservatives left 'speechless' after MP's defection | Conservatives left 'speechless' after MP's defection |
Listen: Newscast on Poulter defection | |
Responding to Dr Poulter's resignation, Mr Philp told the programme: "I don't accept what Dan is saying at all. | Responding to Dr Poulter's resignation, Mr Philp told the programme: "I don't accept what Dan is saying at all. |
"We're now spending £165bn a year on the NHS, that's more than ever, at any point in history." | "We're now spending £165bn a year on the NHS, that's more than ever, at any point in history." |
He added: "That isn't the sign of a party de-prioritising the NHS. That is a sign of a political party, the Conservatives, investing heavily in our NHS because it is a priority." | He added: "That isn't the sign of a party de-prioritising the NHS. That is a sign of a political party, the Conservatives, investing heavily in our NHS because it is a priority." |
He insisted the Conservatives did value public services and was investing "record amounts of money in both education and health". | He insisted the Conservatives did value public services and was investing "record amounts of money in both education and health". |
Mr Philp also argued NHS waiting lists were now coming down despite the challenges of the pandemic and strike action. | Mr Philp also argued NHS waiting lists were now coming down despite the challenges of the pandemic and strike action. |
Dr Poulter said he had "no animus" towards Prime Minster Rishi Sunak but was critical of the direction of his former party. | Dr Poulter said he had "no animus" towards Prime Minster Rishi Sunak but was critical of the direction of his former party. |
"We now have a Tory Party that resembles sometimes a little bit more a nationalist national party, rather than a party of the centre-right," he said. | "We now have a Tory Party that resembles sometimes a little bit more a nationalist national party, rather than a party of the centre-right," he said. |
Dr Poulter announced his defection on Saturday evening | Dr Poulter announced his defection on Saturday evening |
It is the third Conservative defection since 2019. | It is the third Conservative defection since 2019. |
Lee Anderson who sat briefly as an independent joined Reform last month and Christian Wakeford left the Conservatives for the Labour Party in 2022. | Lee Anderson who sat briefly as an independent joined Reform last month and Christian Wakeford left the Conservatives for the Labour Party in 2022. |
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Dr Poulter's defection, saying "it's time to end the Conservative chaos". | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Dr Poulter's defection, saying "it's time to end the Conservative chaos". |
Asked whether he was offered anything to join Labour, such as a seat in the House of Lords, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told the programme: "Not that I'm aware of. | Asked whether he was offered anything to join Labour, such as a seat in the House of Lords, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told the programme: "Not that I'm aware of. |
"He said very clearly to me when I was talking to him this week about how he might help, he's going back to the NHS full-time when Parliament is dissolved, which can't come soon enough as far as we're concerned." | "He said very clearly to me when I was talking to him this week about how he might help, he's going back to the NHS full-time when Parliament is dissolved, which can't come soon enough as far as we're concerned." |
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said the defection was "another blow to Rishi Sunak's authority". | Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said the defection was "another blow to Rishi Sunak's authority". |
"Former lifelong Conservative voters are turning away from this government because they can see the damage done to the NHS from years of neglect," she said. | "Former lifelong Conservative voters are turning away from this government because they can see the damage done to the NHS from years of neglect," she said. |
"In many parts of the country these people are switching to the Liberal Democrats, as the party with a clear plan to fix both the NHS and social care." | "In many parts of the country these people are switching to the Liberal Democrats, as the party with a clear plan to fix both the NHS and social care." |
Watch: Wes Streeting says millions of Conservative voters feel "politically homeless" | Watch: Wes Streeting says millions of Conservative voters feel "politically homeless" |
Watch: Wes Streeting says millions of Conservative voters feel "politically homeless" | Watch: Wes Streeting says millions of Conservative voters feel "politically homeless" |
Dr Poulter, who served as a health minister under the coalition government, has said he will sit as a Labour MP until the general election and then stand down. | Dr Poulter, who served as a health minister under the coalition government, has said he will sit as a Labour MP until the general election and then stand down. |
No date for the next general election has been set - but it has to take place before the end of January 2025. | No date for the next general election has been set - but it has to take place before the end of January 2025. |
Mr Sunak has said his "working assumption" is there will be an poll in the second half of this year, with most commentators expecting this to be in the autumn. | Mr Sunak has said his "working assumption" is there will be an poll in the second half of this year, with most commentators expecting this to be in the autumn. |
However, there has been growing speculation the PM could decide to call an early election to prevent a challenge to his leadership if the Tories suffer heavy losses in Thursday's local elections in England and Wales. | However, there has been growing speculation the PM could decide to call an early election to prevent a challenge to his leadership if the Tories suffer heavy losses in Thursday's local elections in England and Wales. |
In an interview with Sky News, recorded before Dr Poulter's defection, Mr Sunak refused to rule out a July election, adding: "I'm not going to say anything more than I've already said, I've been very clear about that." | In an interview with Sky News, recorded before Dr Poulter's defection, Mr Sunak refused to rule out a July election, adding: "I'm not going to say anything more than I've already said, I've been very clear about that." |
The Conservatives are currently trailing Labour in the polls, but Mr Philp predicted his party's ratings would "significantly improve" closer to a general election when people are confronted with the choice between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir. | The Conservatives are currently trailing Labour in the polls, but Mr Philp predicted his party's ratings would "significantly improve" closer to a general election when people are confronted with the choice between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir. |
"I think as we continue to deliver and get things done, the public will appreciate that," he said. | "I think as we continue to deliver and get things done, the public will appreciate that," he said. |
"I think as we get closer to an election, most likely in the autumn, it becomes more of a choice, rather than a sort of referendum on do you feel grumpy with the government. Clearly, at the moment, people do feel grumpy with the government. | "I think as we get closer to an election, most likely in the autumn, it becomes more of a choice, rather than a sort of referendum on do you feel grumpy with the government. Clearly, at the moment, people do feel grumpy with the government. |
"But as we get closer to an election, it's not so much a referendum on grumpiness. It becomes actually a choice - who do you want to run the country?" | "But as we get closer to an election, it's not so much a referendum on grumpiness. It becomes actually a choice - who do you want to run the country?" |
Meanwhile, Mr Philp was also asked about his appearance on the BBC's Question Times earlier this week, where he appeared to confuse two African countries, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. | Meanwhile, Mr Philp was also asked about his appearance on the BBC's Question Times earlier this week, where he appeared to confuse two African countries, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
"I was struggling a little bit to hear the question," he said. | "I was struggling a little bit to hear the question," he said. |
"I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude." | "I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude." |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Daniel Poulter | Daniel Poulter |
Chris Philp | Chris Philp |