No10 silent on whether PM pays for private healthcare

DOWNING Street yesterday refused to confirm whether Rishi Sunak has private health insurance after two Labour MPS criticised his personal wealth.

Mr Sunak was asked during Prime Minister’s Questions if he would use a GP or A&E service if he or a family member became unwell, or “pay privately” to see someone more quickly.

He responded by praising the team at the NHS Friarage Hospital in North Yorkshire, which he said had provided “excellent care” to his family, but did not give a direct answer to the question.

Asked whether Mr Sunak had private health insurance, his press secretary said: “I don’t think you would expect me to comment on medical things relating to the Prime Minister.”

Pressed on the topic, she added: “I actually don’t know the answer to that question and I don’t think it would be right for me to comment.”

Mr Sunak’s press secretary criticised the Labour MPS who had singled out Mr Sunak’s wealth, adding: “Actually, we should be encouraging aspiration.”

Karl Turner, MP for Kingston upon Hull East, questioned whether Mr Sunak would “wait 12 hours” for A&E or attempt to book a surgery appointment.

In a separate question, Liam Byrne, MP for Hodge Hill, claimed the Prime Minister was “one of the richest men in Britain”, criticising him for not changing laws around non-domicile status.

Mr Sunak is thought to be the wealthiest prime minister in history, while the stake held by his wife Akshata Murty in Infosys, her father’s IT company, is valued at £618million.

Questioned during the summer leadership campaign on when he and his family last used the health service, Mr Sunak said: “You wouldn’t expect me to talk about my kids’ medical [history], but of course we use the NHS.”

Margaret Thatcher revealed she had private health insurance in 1987, while David Cameron made a point of using the NHS during his time at No 10.