During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on 30 October, Jeremy Corbyn focused on the NHS. He questioned the PM over the government’s plans to sell off parts of the NHS to US companies; and he asked about cuts to services and waiting lists.
But Johnson’s answers were full of bluster. So it was left to Corbyn to sum the PM up in one sentence:
https://twitter.com/IwantJC4PM/status/1189523193620549633?s=20
If in doubt, repeat a lie
Corbyn highlighted the recent Channel 4 Dispatches programme which investigated:
how a trade deal with America might leave the NHS footing a bill for billions, meaning less money for our healthcare.
But Johnson dismissed the programme’s findings. Instead, he chose to repeat another of his discredited claims – that he is planning on building 40 new hospitals. Such funding is actually only available for six hospitals. Full Fact‘s conclusion on Johnson’s claims was clear:
In its latest announcement the government has committed the money to upgrade six hospitals by 2025. Up to 38 other hospitals have received money to plan for building work between 2025 and 2030, but not to actually begin any work.
Save our NHS
Just as Johnson repeatedly used the ‘£350m a week to the NHS’ lie during the Leave campaign, he is likely to spout the ’40 hospitals’ claim continually during the election campaign.
But Johnson and the Conservative Party cannot be trusted with the NHS. As one doctor on Twitter pointed out:
https://twitter.com/DancingTheMind/status/1187076993331924994?s=20
Labour MP Angela Rayner, meanwhile, nailed why it is so important to focus on the NHS:
It’s absolutely right that @jeremycorbyn made the bulk of #PMQs about our #NHS We cannot allow the Tories to flog off the NHS to privateers or Trumps cronies #HandsOffOurNHS
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) October 30, 2019
The Conservative Party clearly does not care about our NHS and will happily sell it off to the highest bidder. This election is a chance to reclaim our healthcare, kick out the private companies, and stop Johnson from selling it off to Donald Trump’s mates.
Johnson will fight this with bluster and lies. So it’s down to all of us to call him out every time it happens and, in the words of Corbyn, remind the world that Johnson is “talking nonsense”.
Featured image via Twitter – David. #VoteLabour
