Corbyn says he has evidence the 'NHS is on the table' in US-UK trade talks

27 November 2019, 10:15

EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

Jeremy Corbyn says Labour has obtained uncensored documents which confirm the US is asking for the NHS to be "on the table" and will be "up for sale," under a Conservative government.

The Labour leader told a press conference he has 451 pages of unredacted documents that confirm the NHS is on the table in trade talks with the US.

Revealing the document Mr Corbyn said Labour had "obtained" an unredacted document which was a "very different version of events" to the previously redacted version Labour activists obtained.

Previously, Boris Johnson addressed claims made by Labour saying there were no circumstances when any Conservative government would put the NHS on the table in any trade negotiations.

Mr Johnson said: “It is completely untrue. There are no circumstances whatever in which this government or any Conservative government will put the NHS on the table in any trade negotiation. Our NHS will never be for sale.” 

Jeremy Corbyn reveals the unredacted memo
Jeremy Corbyn reveals the unredacted memo. Picture: PA

He asked if the Prime Minister would like to explain why the documents "confirm the US is demanding the NHS is on the table in the trade talks."

He said the uncensored documents leave Mr Johnson's denials in "absolute tatters."

Mr Corbyn said voters should ask themselves if the NHS was safe in Conservative hands.

Accusing the Prime Minister of trying to "cover it up," the Opposition leader said, "today it's been exposed."

He said the reports cover six rounds to talks which took place in Washington DC and London.

Mr Corbyn said the reports were first obtained in censored form
Mr Corbyn said the reports were first obtained in censored form. Picture: PA

When it comes to the detail of the documents Mr Corbyn said they were "secret talks for a deal with Donald Trump after Brexit."

He said it would be a deal which will "shape our country's future."

The reports, Mr Corbyn said, show "the US and the UK have already finished initial discussion on lengthening patents for medicines," which he said could "mean only one thing. More expensive drugs."

"Lives will be put at risk as a result of this," the Labour leader said.

Boris Johnson has previously denied Labour's claims on the NHS
Boris Johnson has previously denied Labour's claims on the NHS. Picture: PA

In a world exclusive interview with LBC, US President Donald Trump said said: “I don’t even know where your healthcare system started with respect to us taking over your healthcare system. It’s so ridiculous. I think Corbyn put that out there. It was never even mentioned. I never even heard it until I went to visit with the Queen.”

The President was firm in stating he had no plans at all to take over the NHS saying: “We are trying to fix our health service.”

Jeremy Corbyn said out of patent medicines available in the UK were vastly cheaper than those in the United States.

Citing one specific example, Mr Corbyn said the "drug Humira for Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis costs our NHS £1,409 a packet."

He said "In the US, the same packet costs £8,115." Which was "£1,409 in our NHS, £8,115 in the USA."

LBC News has approached the Conservative Party for comment.