Tories Praise Wes Streeting’s Plans For The NHS

Conservatives have praised Wes Streeting at their annual party conference, saying the Labour Health Secretary has shown "political courage" by recognising that "the NHS model isn’t working properly”.

George Freeman, the Tory MP for Mid Norfolk who has twice served as science, innovation and technology minister, was asked about the Labour government’s healthcare plans at a Monday fringe event on life sciences research.

“The new government have made very clear there’s a lot of continuity. I’m pretty cheered,” the Conservative MP replied.

He said that he had been in discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Science Secretary Peter Kyle about life sciences research and the health innovation economy. 

“I’m talking to Keir and Peter Kyle and others. They have been kind enough to say this is one of the areas they don’t view as part of the broken inheritance.”

Speaking at the UCB-sponsored event on Monday, Freeman argued that the NHS needs reform driving at "localisation of integrated care".

“Wes Streeting is on this: he has recognised that the NHS model isn’t working properly. It’s not a lack of money – of course it needs more money, but that isn’t the thing – it’s centralised. Very, very heavily centralised.

“In the Labour Party there was a big debate when they formed [the NHS]. I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall. Half of them said it should be a local, integrated, patient pathway service – key word…

“The Bevanites said, ‘No, it’ll be a national health service, we’ll take it to London, it’ll be unstoppable.’ I understand why – because they were worried it would be drowned at birth as a project.

“Well, it has become this huge unstoppable machine. We’re pouring billions in, in London. Not enough of that is coming out on