Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has delivered a devastating political broadside, comparing the abysmal state of NHS GP waiting times to Liz Truss's historically short tenure as Prime Minister.
In a brutally effective soundbite that left the Commons chamber reeling, Streeting declared: "The former prime minister’s 49-day premiership lasted longer than the wait to see a GP for 6.5 million patients."
The Stinging Parliamentary Attack
During a heated Health and Social Care Questions session, Streeting seized the opportunity to highlight what Labour describes as the Conservative government's catastrophic failure in healthcare delivery. His comments came as fresh data reveals the shocking scale of the GP access crisis gripping the nation.
"After 14 years of Conservative government, the only thing they have to offer is more of the same: more chaos, more decline, more desperate excuses," Streeting fired across the dispatch box.
The Shocking Numbers Behind the Rhetoric
Recent NHS England figures paint a grim picture of the healthcare landscape, with millions of patients facing unacceptable delays for essential medical attention. The comparison to Truss's 49-day administration wasn't merely political theatre—it was grounded in the harsh reality of current waiting time statistics.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins attempted to defend the government's record, but struggled to counter the compelling narrative built around Streeting's powerful analogy.
A Healthcare System in Crisis
The exchange highlights the growing political battle over the NHS, which is expected to feature prominently in the upcoming general election campaign. Streeting's comments reflect Labour's strategy to position themselves as the natural custodians of the health service, while painting the Conservatives as responsible for its current struggles.
With waiting times becoming a critical concern for voters across the demographic spectrum, such pointed political exchanges are likely to become increasingly common as election day approaches.
