, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, has
written to the Prime Minister urging him to correct the record on
votes on the NHS Funding Act.
The House did not take a vote on the second or third readings of
the Bill and Labour did not vote against the Bill – despite
falsely claiming otherwise during Prime Minister’s
Questions.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary, , also refused on multiple occasions to confirm
whether accepted that he was wrong to say that Labour voted
against an NHS pay rise.
Ends
Full text of Jonathan Ashworth’s letter to the Prime
Minister
The Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
10 March 2021
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you to correct the record on votes on the NHS
Funding Act 2020.
At Prime Ministers’ Questions today, with reference to the NHS
Long Term Plan planning documents, you responded to the Leader of
the Opposition to say:
“Mr Speaker, he voted against the document in question, to
crown the absurdity of his point.”
However, at both second and third reading the House did not
divide to vote on this Bill. Indeed, at the time of Second
Reading I said:
“We will not divide the House tonight, but instead seek to
amend the Bill.”
To say that Labour voted against this Bill is therefore
incorrect. At all times in the debate, Labour attempted to secure
a greater financial settlement for the NHS in order to improve
patient care.
I was surprised to hear that this afternoon your Press Secretary,
, refused around 20 times to confirm whether you
accept that you were wrong to say that Labour voted against an
NHS pay rise.
I would be grateful if you could correct the record on this.
Yours sincerely,
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
