Streeting speaks about ‘daunting’ prospect of being subsequent UK well being secretary
W
es Streeting has spoken concerning the “absolutely daunting” prospect of changing into well being secretary if Labour wins the following common election.
However, the shadow well being and social care secretary insisted he would “relish” taking over the function, saying his expertise of going by kidney most cancers had proven him how “important the NHS is for all of us”.
The Ilford North MP revealed he had the illness in 2021, later saying he was most cancers free after present process surgical procedure to take away certainly one of his kidneys.
It is daunting, it’s completely daunting. I really feel the load of duty that comes with what’s going to inevitably be one of the vital troublesome jobs in authorities.
With a common election prone to happen sooner or later in 2024, and with polls suggesting Sir Keir Starmer would be the subsequent prime minister, Mr Streeting mentioned the chief had caused “really serious, fundamental change” inside Labour, in order that the social gathering may now win an election once more.
“No-one is now saying seriously that the Labour Party is not a party that is capable of governing, and I do think that is a transformational difference from where we were before,” the MP mentioned.
Interviewed by former Scottish Conservtive chief Baroness Ruth Davidson on the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Mr Streeting mentioned that the prospect of working the well being service now retains him awake at evening.
Mr Streeting said: “It is daunting, it is absolutely daunting. I feel the weight of responsibility that comes with what will inevitably be one of the most difficult jobs in government.”
He added that if Labour was elected, being well being secretary would “probably the most difficult job” after being prime minister or chancellor.
However he insisted the job “is one I would relish”.
The MP, who was first elected to the Commons in 2015, added: “I went through kidney cancer, I know how important the NHS is for all of us and for all the cynicism and pessimism I still believe that an NHS that is publicly funded, free at the point of use, is the best and fairest way to fund and organise the National Health Service.”
But he mentioned there wanted to be a change in “where the money goes”, with Mr Streeting suggesting: “We need to fix the front door of the NHS in primary care and community services, with much more support in people’s homes, relieve the pressure on hospitals, do early diagnosis, that will both be better for patients and save taxpayers money.”
He additionally confused the significance of reforming social care, saying this had been “neglected by successive governments and parties”.
He mentioned: “There is no answer to fixing the NHS crisis that doesn’t involve social care.”
He spoke of the necessity to attempt to “forge long-term consensus” about the way forward for the NHS, so any reforms final for a couple of parliament.
Speaking concerning the prospect of taking cost of the well being service, Mr Streeting said: “It’s the thing that keeps me up at night and the thing I spend at the moment most of my time thinking about.
“What I am now really in the weeds of is what is the 10-year plan? What are my first white papers? What is the legislation for the first King’s speech? Who am I going to bring together round the table to deal with some of the thorny issues that haven’t been addressed?
“I’m at that level of planning.”