The PM said the move will ‘cut bureaucracy’ and bring management of the health service ‘back into democratic control’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished to ‘cut bureaucracy’ and bring management of the health service ‘back into democratic control’.
The non-departmental public body will be dismantled so that the NHS can be put back in its rightful place ‘at the heart of government, where it belongs’, the Labour leader said.
Starmer announced the bold new plans earlier today (13 March) while delivering a speech during a visit to Hull.
He promised that getting rid of NHS England will allow the health service to ‘focus on patients’, battle less bureaucracy and free up ‘more money for nurses’.
For those who don’t know, NHS England is the organisation which leads and manages the NHS in England to ‘ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare services’.
The repetition of those two words probably wasn’t the best choice for a name, as it’s quite likely that loads of Brits will wrongly presume that our publicly-funded healthcare system is going kaput.
But in the words of Starmer, NHS England really was something of an unnecessary ‘duplication’ of our beloved NHS – and the excess funds freed up from it’s demise can now be funnelled into frontline services instead.
Starmer announced the move on Thursday morning (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
According to the UK government website, NHS England works in tandem with NHS organisations to ‘deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities and provide value for taxpayers’.
This includes overseeing the budget, planning, delivery and day-to-day operations of the NHS, as well as directly commissioning general practitioners, dentists, optometrists and some specialist services.
But this description will likely be changed in the coming days, if it doesn’t completely vanish altogether, following Downing Street’s announcement about ditching NHS England.
And according to Sir Keir, the move could mark a huge turning point for our cash-strapped national health service.
Discussing his motivations, the PM explained: “I can’t in all honesty explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy.
“That money could and should be spent on nurses, doctors, operations, GP appointments. So today, I can announce we’re going to cut bureaucracy, focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the frontline.
“So I’m bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arms-length body, NHS England.”
Starmer said that decisions about billions of pounds of taxpayers money should not be taken by an ‘arms-length’ body.
He explained one of the biggest motivations for abolishing NHS England was the ‘duplication’ of services he mentioned.
Starmer, pictured back in January, says abolishing NHS England will rejuvenate the NHS (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Detailing just how similar both bodies were, Starmer said: “If you can believe it, we’ve got a communications team in NHS England, we’ve got a communications team in the health department of government.
“We’ve got a strategy team in NHS England, a strategy team in the government department. We’re duplicating things that could be done once.
“If we strip that out, which is what we’re doing today, that then allows us to free up that money, to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line.”
NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care instead – which is news that was welcomed by health secretary Wes Streeting.
“This is the final nail in the coffin of the disastrous 2012 reorganisation, which led to the longest waiting times, lowest patient satisfaction, and most expensive NHS in history,” he said of the plans.
“When money is so tight, we can’t justify such a complex bureaucracy with two organisations doing the same jobs.
“We need more doers, and fewer checkers, which is why I’m devolving resources and responsibilities to the NHS frontline.”
It comes just a month after NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard, who served as Chief Executive since 2021, resigned from her post.
Featured Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
Topics: Keir Starmer, NHS, UK News
Olivia Burke
breaking
Prime Minister Keir Starmer issues statement on exploded oil tanker as US confirms it was carrying their jet fuel
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has released a statement on the North Sea collision
An update had been issued on the collision between an oil tanker and a container ship, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has commented on the incident.
Earlier today (10 March), a US-flagged tanker called the Stena Immaculate and a Portuguese-flagged container ship called the Solong collided with one another, causing explosions in the North Sea, off the coast of the UK and east of Hull.
It has been reported by the BBC that the Stena Immaculate was carrying cargo and fuel for the US Department of Defense.
Officials said: “The collision and ensuing explosions will not impact operations or combat readiness. We do not have a single point of failure.”
Oil tanker Stena Immaculate was damaged with explosions after a collision with a Portuguese-flagged container ship (Bartek Smialek/PA Wire)
Officials on Downing Street have said details of the cause of the collision were ‘still becoming clear’ and remained an ‘extremely concerning situation’.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “We thank the emergency services for their rapid response. I understand the Department for Transport is working closely with the coastguard to help support the response to the incident.
“We’re obviously monitoring the situation, we’ll continue to co-ordinate the response and we’re grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts.”
The company managing the oil tanker, Crowley, revealed that there were ‘multiple explosions onboard’ after the vessel ruptured a cargo tank, having collided with container ship Solong, report PA.
BREAKING: Major maritime disaster off the coast of Hull, England after a collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker. The fire can be seen from miles away
The BBC have also reported that the Solong vessel was carrying 15 containers of the chemical Sodium Cyanide among its cargo when it collided with the Stena Immaculate, according to maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
As described by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), sodium cyanide is a crystal-like solid that is used in industry for metal cleaning, plating and extraction, as well as photography.
It can also be used to make other chemicals, though they note that human exposure to these salts can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, nervousness, confusion, changes in heart rate and drowsiness.
In the worst cases, it can cause heart and respiratory issues, or even death.
The raging fire in the North Sea could be seen for miles (Bartek Smialek/PA Wire)
As for those aboard the ships when the accident took place before 10am today, it has been confirmed that everyone involved in the disaster has now been taken ashore.
An initial group of 13 people were rescued and taken to shore, with groups of 10 and nine crew members also being taken to land.
MP for Beverley and Holderness Graham Stuart has since stated that he had spoken with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
Alexander confirmed that all 37 people on the two ships were present and accounted for, and that only one person among them was in hospital.
Featured Image Credit: Bartek Smialek/PA Wire
Topics: UK News, World News, Politics, Keir Starmer
Joshua Nair
Keir Starmer becomes new prime minister as Labour win 2024 General Election
Here’s what happens next for the new PM
Labour has won the general election, with Sir Keir Starmer set to become the new prime minister.
The Labour party were the clear and obvious frontrunners to win the election and it turns out that 2024 was not the year for an upset.
With all the seats yet to be called, it’s clear Labour has already been victorious, demolishing the Conservative party’s majority.
Speaking after the result, the country’s new leader, Starmer, said ‘we did it’ and claimed that this morning the country was waking to a ‘sunlight of hope’.
He told supporters: “You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived: change begins now.
“It feels good, I have to be honest. Four and a half years of work changing the party, this is is what it is for: a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people.
Step one: Win the election. Step two: Actually try and implement the stuff you promised. (Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)
“And across our country, people will be waking up to the news, relief that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation.
“And now we can look forward, walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”
Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak wasn’t so happy.
In a statement to the Conservative party, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer apologised for the devastating defeat.
“The Labour Party has won this General Election, and I’ve called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” he said. “Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country’s stability and future.
“The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn… and I take responsibility for the loss.
PA
“To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry.”
But the victory isn’t wholly surprising given that Labour have been miles ahead of the Conservatives in the polls for quite some time.
Now that Starmer has won the election and become prime minister, you might be wondering what exactly happens next.
The first thing to do is head to Buckingham Palace for an audience with King Charles III, who will invite Starmer to form a government.
Most new prime ministers then like to head for 10 Downing Street to make a speech outside the famous door before ushering their families inside what will be their new home.
What follows are plenty of meetings with civil servants in number 10 and briefings on the things that most immediately require the new PM’s attention, such as matters of national security.
Now he’s the new prime minister there’s a lot of ‘first day’ things to get through. (Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Speaking of which, Starmer will also have to write his letters to the commanders of the submarines which hold the UK’s arsenal of nuclear weapons, telling them what he wants them to do if Britain is destroyed by a nuclear attack.
If they’re never needed, then they’ll be destroyed without ever being opened once Starmer leaves office.
Ministers that make up his new government will also visit him in Downing Street and the phone will be ringing off the hook as world leaders call up to congratulate the new prime minister.
Featured Image Credit: Max Mumby/Getty Dan Kitwood/Getty
Topics: Politics, UK News, Keir Starmer
Joe Harker
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will have secret code to find out England score during NATO summit
The PM won’t have access to his phone during the match
Keir Starmer may be in charge of running the country, but that’s not going to stop him from keeping up with the football.
After beating Switzerland in the quarter-finals last week, the Three Lions are set to go head to head with the Netherlands in tonight’s Euros semis.
And even though the new PM’s attending a Nato summit in Washington DC, Keir Starmer has made sure he’ll be kept up to date on the score.
Ahead of tonight’s game, he joked that England hasn’t missed a single penalty since he became PM – as Southgate’s men reached the semi-finals after a 5-3 penalty shootout victory on Saturday.
England will play the Netherlands in tonight’s Euros semi-final (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
When asked for his advice for the team tonight, he simply replied ‘Win!’
The Labour leader also revealed that he’ll be passed notes to keep him updated on the action.
“I understand our phones are all taken off us when we go into the [North Atlantic] Council, so I’ve no doubt we’ll be passed lots of notes with really important information about the summit, and one or two of those notes hopefully will be an update on the score, because I’m not going to be able to get it otherwise,” he said, as per The Mirror.
“But, look, I’ve sent a message to the team, obviously I wish them well, I want them to win, and let’s hope they can do it.
“I’d remind you, England have not missed a penalty under a Labour government in 2024.”
The leader of the Labour party, which won an impressive 411 seats in Thursday’s election, also spoke about Arsenal player Bukayo Saka’s equaliser in the 80th minute of the quarter-final.
Keir Starmer has revealed he’ll be given notes to keep up with the match while at the Nato Summit it Washington DC (HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Starmer said: “That was classic Bukayo, cuts in from the right and that shot is absolutely classic – inside of the post – I’ve seen it so many times.”
Tonight’s semi-final held in Dortmund is set to kick off at 8pm and will be available to watch live on ITV.
Starmer is expected to attend the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday if they win.
Given a few tense matches throughout the tournament, an England victory has at points seemed out of reach, but there’s been renewed hope in the Three Lions as of late.
If the men’s team do manage to win it all, they’ll be set to receive quite the pay packet.
Not only will there be the total joy and satisfaction, but if we do finally see if come home, the squad will share a pot that adds up to a mega £9.6 million.
Not bad for a few week’s work…
Featured Image Credit: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Topics: UK News, Keir Starmer, Football, Euro 2024
Bec Oakes
Keir Starmer breaks his silence in interview over Trump ‘World War 3’ warning to Zelenskyy
The Prime Minister appeared on Laura Kuenssberg’s show following his meeting with Zelenskyy
Keir Starmer has broken his silence over Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heated exchange on Friday (28 February).
Recorded at the Oval Office, the US president accused the Ukrainian president of ‘gambling with World War III’. Zelenskyy ended up leaving the White House early, later saying he was ‘thankful to the president’ and confident that their relationship can be salvaged.
The Ukrainian then arrived in the UK yesterday where he met with the Prime Minister at Downing Street. And Starmer appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg as he said Trump and Zelenskyy’s clash made him feel ‘uncomfortable’.
“Nobody wants to see that,” he said of the two leaders’ exchange, adding: “Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension. The cameras were on.”
The labour leader said the important thing is ‘how to react to that’.
“There are a number of different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not,” Starmer explained.
Starmer met with Zelenskyy on Saturday. (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
“The other is to do what I did, which is roll up my sleeves, pick up the phone, talk to President Trump, talk to President Zelenskyy, then invite President Zelenskyy for an extensive meeting yesterday, a warm welcome, and then further pick up the phone to President Macron and President Trump afterwards.”
The Prime Minister said his reaction was: “We have to bridge this. We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace.”
.jpg)
.jpg)
Trump had strong words for Zelenskyy. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Speaking of Trump, he added: “I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace.”
As the world reacts to the tense exchange between Zelenskyy and the US president, Starmer explained that it has been agreed that the UK along with France ‘and possibly one or two others’ will now work with Ukraine ‘on a plan to stop the fighting’.
“And then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” he added.
After accusing Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with the lives of millions of people’, Trump shared a statement on his Truth Social platform.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” he wrote.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Politics, World News, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, Keir Starmer, UK News, US News, BBC
