The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to scrap a pharmaceutical deal with the United States, arguing the savings should be redirected to social care. The agreement, struck under Donald Trump's administration, maintains tariff-free UK pharmaceutical imports for three years while requiring the NHS to raise its spending threshold on new medicines by 25%.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper criticised the arrangement, stating the money used to 'pay off the bully in the White House' could have funded social care. The party urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to personally lead cross-party talks on social care reform, noting that only one meeting of Baroness Casey's independent commission has taken place since its announcement 12 months ago.
Cooper said: 'Keir Starmer has found billions of pounds to pay off the bully in the White House but has still not found the funds to fix social care. He needs to personally get a grip of this crisis, end this negligence and finally show whose side he’s on.'
The government has disputed claims the deal could cost the NHS an extra £3 billion a year, with No 10 and Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggesting the figure would be around £1 billion by March 2029. A spokesperson said the deal is a 'vital investment' to increase access to lifesaving medicines, and that no money will be cut from frontline NHS services.
