Labour is putting unions before patients, says Javid

LABOUR is putting support for unions before saving the lives of patients, Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, has said.

Writing to his frontbench counterpart, Wes Streeting, Mr Javid said the Labour shadow minister was neglecting his duty to protect NHS patients and staff.

“These strikes will put patients at risk,” he wrote. “The disruption will make it more difficult for doctors, nurses, carers, and other healthcare staff to get into work. It will also make it harder for patients to come in to see them for much-needed treatments. Some patients will have booked time off work to attend their appointments.

“I know that you care about health and care in this country. So please put patients first and join me in condemning the impact of these unjustified strikes which are bad for patients and bad for NHS and social care staff.”

Mr Javid made the remarks as Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, accused the Government of “inciting” a Tube strike on Tuesday by “whipping up” division over the amount of funding Transport for London gets.

He said: “At the core of this is the Government orchestrating and inciting a strike by attaching these conditions to the funding deal, which has got the trade unions really concerned.” Mr Khan ruled out ditching the congestion charge for commuters left with no choice but to use their cars during the strike, despite pressure from MPS.

Huw Merriman, chairman of the transport select committee, told The Daily Telegraph: “Rail passengers must not be punished for being forced to use their cars.

“Charging them just adds insult to the whole ordeal. Let’s drop the charge and be on the side of the public.”

Mr Streeting was one of several Labour MPS to offer support to workers of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) who will be striking on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week.

He told a Question Time audience last week that he would be out there protesting with the rail workers if he were in their situation.

“I would be voting to defend my job, terms and conditions,” he said. “[If ] you think you’re about to lose your job overnight ... of course they’re fighting for their terms and conditions.”

Earlier this week it was reported that Mr Streeting had apologised to Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, for making the comments as they were bad publicity for the party.

Five Labour MPS who have supported the strikes have received funding from the RMT, totalling £20,000.