There’s an interesting inter-Whitehall competition shaping up to produce the most fawning welcome video for Labour’s new ministers. Wes Streeting’s shows him sweeping up to the Department for Health and Social Care in his new ministerial car…
Welcome Secretary of State for Health and Social Care @WesStreeting.
We look forward to helping you deliver the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future. pic.twitter.com/WN02CJZaBf
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 5, 2024
Meanwhile, Angela Rayner includes shots of her being taken on a tour of the department by its permanent secretary, culminating in her being presented with a portrait of herself on the wall – which seems to leave her slightly stunned. Impartial…
Welcome to the Deputy Prime Minister and our Secretary of State @AngelaRayner pic.twitter.com/XsYC2YnRYT
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) July 5, 2024
David Lammy is also off the mark with a homiletic video introducing his foreign policy priorities. Don’t remember Tory ministers being given this treatment…
Sunak said today: “The smoking ban, of course, disappointed to not be able to get that through at the end of this session given the time available, but what I’d say is that’s evidence of the bold action I’m prepared to take, that’s the type of Prime Minister I am, that’s the type of leadership that I bring.” Eh?
Wes Streeting is keen to light up Sunak over it. He says “If Rishi Sunak’s idea of bold leadership is to crumble before his party and surrender his landmark smoking bill, it’s no wonder the country is in such a mess.” This bill’s turning out to be a bit of a drag…
“Labour remains committed to the policy. We will make sure that young people today are even less likely to smoke than they are to vote Tory.”
Downing Street now promises to re-introduce their flagship bill if they’re elected. Guido’s not sure he can hear Tory activists rushing out to the start doorstepping in response…
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting claimed on Sky News yesterday that is was “immoral” and “unfair” to rely on migration to staff the NHS, adding the UK is not “investing in homegrown talent”. Of course, he promised that Labour would remedy the situation. Heal the world and make it a better place…
It is odd however, that Streeting was so damning about the UK’s reliance on immigration considering just last year he was praising it in a piece for the Mail on Sunday. He wrote:
“An international workforce strengthens the NHS and it should be a source of pride for us Brits that so many healthcare professionals choose to work in the UK.”
Quite the change of heart. Maybe he’s just following the steps of his flip-flopping leader…
