NHS is 'broken' in 'unforgivable' ways, Starmer says ahead of major healthcare report

ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan reports on the details to emerge from Sir Keir Starmer's first major broadcast interview as PM

The NHS has been "broken" in ways which are "unforgivable", Sir Keir Starmer has said in a major Sunday broadcast interview.

The prime minister made the claim as a review into how children are treated by the NHS is to be published this week.

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg from the Downing Street Cabinet Room, Sir Keir said reforms to the NHS by the Conservatives in power were "hopelessly misconceived", and blamed the previous government for leaving it in an "awful state", following austerity and the pandemic.

A review by eminent surgeon and independent peer Lord Darzi, due to be published on Thursday, is expected to highlight how children are being let down by the health service.

It also pinpointed falling vaccination rates, as well as rises in ADHD medication and in eating disorder-related hospital admissions for children.

In the interview, broadcast on Sunday morning, Sir Keir said: "Everybody watching this who has used the NHS, or relatives have, know that it's broken, they know that it's broken, that is unforgivable, the state of our NHS."

The prime minister claimed the health service's problems stem from "the money that was taken out of the NHS, particularly in the early years of the coalition from 2010 onwards, the [Andrew] Lansley reforms, which were hopelessly misconceived. And then, of course, Covid on top of all that, which has put us in this awful position for the NHS".

Sir Keir pinned the blame of NHS failings on the previous government, as he has done with the UK's economic situation.

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"The last government broke the NHS," he said.

The prime minister added: "Our job now through Lord Darzi is properly understand how that came about and bring about the reforms, starting with the first steps, the 40,000 extra appointments.

"But we've got to do the hard yards of reform as well. And, as I say, I think it's only a Labour government that can do the reform that our NHS needs, and we'll start on that journey."

During the interview, Sir Keir also faced questions on the government's response to the summer riots, the Grenfell Tower fire, the government's claims of a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, his coming visit to the White House, and revealed the name of the new Downing Street cat, Prince.

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