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Nick Clegg lets slip George Osborne's plan to give NHS a £1.5bn boost Nick Clegg lets slip George Osborne's plan to give NHS a £1.5bn boost
(about 1 hour later)
The Government could be set to inject another £1.5bn into the National Health Service in next week’s autumn statement, Nick Clegg has suggested.The Government could be set to inject another £1.5bn into the National Health Service in next week’s autumn statement, Nick Clegg has suggested.
The Deputy Prime Minister appeared to jump the gun on one of George Osborne’s key announcements in an attempt to ensure the Liberal Democrats get some of the credit from the cash boost.The Deputy Prime Minister appeared to jump the gun on one of George Osborne’s key announcements in an attempt to ensure the Liberal Democrats get some of the credit from the cash boost.
Whitehall officials said no final decision had been taken, but the Conservatives were irritated at Mr Clegg for shining a light on Coalition negotiations over the Chancellor’s package. “He’s never raised this number in private,” said one Tory source.Whitehall officials said no final decision had been taken, but the Conservatives were irritated at Mr Clegg for shining a light on Coalition negotiations over the Chancellor’s package. “He’s never raised this number in private,” said one Tory source.
The Lib Dem leader told his monthly press conference his party wanted to plan ahead by earmarking £1.5bn to head off pressures on the NHS for the winter of 2015-16. Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has already provided £700m for this winter.The Lib Dem leader told his monthly press conference his party wanted to plan ahead by earmarking £1.5bn to head off pressures on the NHS for the winter of 2015-16. Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has already provided £700m for this winter.
Mr Clegg did "not anticipate a great political stand-off" over its inclusion in the Chancellor’s statement a week this Wednesday.Mr Clegg did "not anticipate a great political stand-off" over its inclusion in the Chancellor’s statement a week this Wednesday.
"I believe we should and I believe we will," he said, when discussing earmarking money beyond next May's general election. "That is very much something which is on the agenda in our discussions within Government as we prepare for the autumn statement.”"I believe we should and I believe we will," he said, when discussing earmarking money beyond next May's general election. "That is very much something which is on the agenda in our discussions within Government as we prepare for the autumn statement.”
Calling for a “step change” in health funding, he said the £1.5bn figure was in line with "compelling analysis" by Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive, who concluded that another £8bn a year will be needed by 2020 on top of efficiency savings.Calling for a “step change” in health funding, he said the £1.5bn figure was in line with "compelling analysis" by Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive, who concluded that another £8bn a year will be needed by 2020 on top of efficiency savings.
Mr Clegg said the Government had to "walk the walk and not just talk the talk" when it came to health spending. The Lib Dem election manifesto will promise a further £1bn a year for the NHS from the 2016-17 financial year.Mr Clegg said the Government had to "walk the walk and not just talk the talk" when it came to health spending. The Lib Dem election manifesto will promise a further £1bn a year for the NHS from the 2016-17 financial year.
The Lib Dem leader said he would never be part of the same coalition as Ukip. “I will never sit around a cabinet table with Nigel Farage, that's for sure," he said. "I should think the feeling is pretty mutual. He represents the politics of fear, the politics of blame, the politics of vilifying foreigners and the politics of economic self harm by pulling the drawbridge up.”The Lib Dem leader said he would never be part of the same coalition as Ukip. “I will never sit around a cabinet table with Nigel Farage, that's for sure," he said. "I should think the feeling is pretty mutual. He represents the politics of fear, the politics of blame, the politics of vilifying foreigners and the politics of economic self harm by pulling the drawbridge up.”
Mr Clegg, who declined to make the same commitment about the Scottish National Party, added: “Compromising with a party that I think basically wants to turn the clock back to the 1950s, has a very regressive attitude towards women, has a very ambivalent attitude to put it mildly towards the NHS - I just don't think you can see the Lib Dems and Ukip in the same space."Mr Clegg, who declined to make the same commitment about the Scottish National Party, added: “Compromising with a party that I think basically wants to turn the clock back to the 1950s, has a very regressive attitude towards women, has a very ambivalent attitude to put it mildly towards the NHS - I just don't think you can see the Lib Dems and Ukip in the same space."
Labour has pledged an extra £2.5bn a year for the NHS, partly funded by a mansion tax. At the weekend, Labour said the £1bn fines imposed on banks after the foreign exchange market scandal should be handed to the NHS immediately.