After backtracking on leaked comments last year, the UKIP leader tells Radio 4 he still supports privatising healthcare
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has again suggested that he would support privatising the the NHS. In an interview with BBC political editor Nick Robinson, Farage admitted that his party were not behind him on the issue but that he had not changed his opinion:
“I triggered a debate within UKIP that was outright rejected by my colleagues, so I have to accept that. As time goes on, this is a debate that we’re all going to have to return to.”
Farage was responding to Robinson’s questions about a film uncovered last November by the Guardian, in which he told UKIP supporters that the he believed the NHS would be better funded by an insurance based system. He said:
“There is no question that healthcare provision is going to have to be very much greater in 10 years than it is today, with an ageing population, and we’re going to have to find ways to do it.”
Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary has responded to Farage’s comments:
“Nigel Farage has confirmed that a vote for UKIP is a vote for the privatisation of the NHS and for a full American healthcare system.
“Farage admits he says one thing in public about the NHS but another behind closed doors. He has shown UKIP’s statements on protecting the NHS to be hollow.
“UKIP claim to stand up for working people, but in reality they are more Tory than the Tories. Farage will never be able to distance himself from his real views. He should be honest with the public.”
72 Responses to “Farage admits he still wants a private NHS”
McQueue
infant
Joe Bloggs
Now you have the answer to the “NHS can’t do without foreign doctors & nurses” reply, when talking of restricting immigration to the UK.
The real truth is that the NHS gives job-preference to non-British applicants.
I don’t know why this is, probably, it is out of some lefty pc policy.
Guest
No, I don’t need to follow your practices.
You are frantically trying to stop my talking ABOUT your view, let alone criticism, showing you’re a liar, as you whine when I talk about i.e. your invocation of Satan, as no good capitalist can be Christian according to the CoE’s own dogma.
You continue to deny fiat currency exists, right there, clearly. Tip – The drawback to printing currency is….inflation. Which is well below target in the UK.
Guest
I did what you said, and now you’re throwing insults, Dick Queue.
You’re basically admitting you are infantile.
McQueue
Sure Leon, keep on wiggling. Nobody cares.