Keir Starmer will give a speech on the future of the NHS hours after facing questions about Rachel Reeves’ future following her tears in the Commons at PMQs
PMQs: Rachel Reeves appears to be emotional
Keir Starmer will give a press conference on the Government’s NHS plans – a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen crying in the chamber at PMQs.
The PM last night insisted her tears were “nothing to do with politics” and said she would remain in post for “many years to come”. Mr Starmer has admitted though that it has been a tough week for his government after a massive Labour rebellion saw flagship welfare reforms torn up.
The Prime Minister is expected to appear alongside Health Secretary Wes Streeting to unveil a new 10 year NHS strategy. He will unveil his vision for the NHS in a major speech, which will see him pledge to “fundamentally rewire” the health service.
The plan, to be published today, will set out how the NHS will move from analogue to digital, treatment to prevention, and from hospital to more community care. By 2035, the intention is that the majority of outpatient care will happen outside of hospitals, with less need for hospital-based appointments for things like eye care, cardiology, respiratory medicine and mental health.
It comes near the end of a torrid week for the PM. In an interview with the BBC he admitted: : “I’m not going to pretend the last few days have been easy, they’ve been tough.
“I’m the sort of person that then wants to reflect on that, to ask myself what do we need to ensure we don’t get into a situation like that again, and we will go through that process.
“But I also know what we will do and that’s we will come through it stronger.”
He was taunted by Kemi Badenoch about Ms Reeves’ future, with the Tory leader suggesting the Chancellor was “toast”. But hours after failing to back her in the Commons, he told the BBC: “She’s done an excellent job as Chancellor and we have delivered inward investment to this country in record numbers.
“She and I work together, we think together. In the past there have been examples – I won’t give any specifics – of chancellors and prime ministers who weren’t in lockstep. We’re in lockstep.”
The PM said Ms Reeves’s tears were to do with a personal matter, on which he would not elaborate. He said it had “nothing to do with politics” or this week’s dramatic welfare U-turns. Pressed on whether it was, Mr Starmer said: “That’s absolutely wrong. Nothing to do with what’s happened this week. It was a personal matter for her, I’m not going to intrude on her privacy by talking to you.”