Labour accuses PM of lying over NHS funding vote
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson was accused of lying to MPs as Downing Street repeatedly refused to say he would apologise for incorrectly claiming Labour voted against an NHS funding package.
Mr Johnson, inset, clashed with Sir Keir Starmer over proposals for a below-inflation pay rise for the NHS, with the Labour leader stating the funding package had included a
2.1 per cent increase rather than the one per cent now recommended by Ministers.
During the exchanges, Mr Johnson twice claimed that Labour voted against the settlement for the NHS – but the NHS Funding Act was approved without a vote in early 2020.
Sir Keir said: “Two years ago he made a promise to the NHS – here in black and white, his document – it commits to a minimum pay rise of 2.1 per cent. It’s being budgeted for and now it’s being taken away. He shakes his head – his MPs voted for it. So why, after everything the NHS has done for us, is he now breaking promise after promise?”
Mr Johnson replied: “He voted against the document in question to crown the absurdity of his point.”
Following the exchanges, Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth used a point of order to accuse Mr Johnson of misleading MPs. But as the Labour frontbencher rose to his feet, Mr Johnson hurriedly exited the chamber.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary, Allegra Stratton, was repeatedly challenged over Mr Johnson’s comments but indicated he would neither apologise nor correct the record.
In a briefing for Westminster journalists, No 10 was asked around 20 questions on the issue and Mr Johnson’s approach to truthfulness. Downing Street indicated that Mr Johnson would not apologise or correct the record, but did not dispute that he was incorrect.
Sir Keir is also due to focus today’s launch of Labour’s local election campaign around the NHS, as he will say “a vote for Labour is a vote to support our nurses”.
He will say: “This is a different Labour Party, under new leadership and we’re making a different offer to the British people.”