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”
Guest
No, that’s your policy. Keep calling the existence of the NHS a problem, too.
Guest
Except, of course, it wasn’t doing badly before the disorganisation, as you demand everyone else has your hate for the end-user of anything.
YOU are concerned with YOU and YOURSELF. Not everyone is you.
Guest
“Smash it all”, you scream. As you demand that people not be treated, so that Shipman wouldn’t have been possible.
Strip the ability of the NHS to treat the poor, you cry! How DARE poor people get treatment!
Change to the American insurance system, you cry. Don’t DARE allow the poor access to healthcare!
And yes, let’s look at your claims your books are the countries, as you show your poor math skills again, and demand that there be no patients because there’s no NHS.
Guest
Ah yes, the 99% in a minority. right.
As you demand that you get all the cash from pensions AND all the NHS cash.
Guest
Keep denying fiat currencies, as you attack healthcare and pensions.