NHS cannot be held to ransom by the unions

WHEN Labour negotiates, Britain loses. The doctors’ strikes are just the latest ina long list of Labour’s negotiating failures.

- KEMI BADENOCH

Before last year’s election, Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting told us that NHS strikes were the Conservatives’ fault. They said Labour would end the strikes.

They then got into government and handed doctors an inflation-busting 28.9% pay rise, with no promise of reform to staffing, commitment to productivity gains or a long-term workforce plan.

I warned at the time that this would set a dangerous precedent. I was right.

Once again, patients are paying the price for Labour's political failure.

Chaos

But this is not theoretical harm. It is cancelled operations, missed cancer appointments. There will be parents watching their kids suffer and pensioners left in pain, and all because Labour won't stand up to the doctors’ unions.