Encourage the wealthy to use private healthcare, says Mogg

WEALTHIER Britons should be encouraged to use private healthcare to help reduce NHS backlogs, former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said yesterday.

He said could not understand the ‘nervousness’ about encouraging its use when NHS waiting list times continue to hit record highs – although No 10 stressed it is purely a choice for individuals.

The ex-business secretary also said there was now the ‘political appetite’ in Britain to open the door for a conversation on NHS reform. Mr Rees-Mogg told his Conservative Home podcast: ‘I think we should encourage people to use private health. I don’t understand the nervousness about using private health which makes the queues for public health lower.

‘I’m in favour of low tax rates and very few breaks – but there is a very good argument to be made for saying that companies should be able to provide health care for their employees on a tax-deductible basis rather than it being fully taxed.’