With an election on 4 July, Mr Streeting has attempted to outline what sort of health secretary he would be if Labour, as expected, is victorious but takes power in the face of record waiting lists caused by the Covid pandemic and exacerbated by ongoing pay disputes. And he comes with a message on why things need to change: "The NHS is not the envy of the world."
The shadow health secretary was speaking to The Independent ahead of appearing at the Hay Festival today in conversation with Independent editor-in-chief Geordie Greig about his biography One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up. Mr Streeting insisted that the book is "not my Obama book" in the way it is meant to promote him as a future leader. He added: "I think if I write another book, I want it to be about how we turned around the NHS."
Mr Streeting said that he believes the state of the NHS was a major reason Rishi Sunak braved the rain on Wednesday afternoon to announce an election. He said: "We know why Rishi Sunak has called the election now. It's because he knows there's another NHS winter crisis around the corner, while strikes that he's failed to resolve are still ongoing."
The last two winters have seen two of the worst crises for the NHS on record, with beds taken up by patients suffering the effects of flu and Covid. But Mr Streeting is also the face of one of the top six pledges - or first steps - on Sir Keir Starmer's pledge card promising to bring in an extra 40,000 appointments a week.
Asked how he would describe the sort of health secretary he wants to become, Mr Streeting said: "I will be a shop steward for patients as health secretary."
This story is from the May 26, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 26, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fernandes saves ponderous United with extra-time goal
A stray punch got the battle of Britain going, but it took the right boot of Bruno Fernandes to decide it.
Keys overcomes Swiatek power in semi-final thriller
Tennis has seen its fair share of mesmerising performances.
RFU chief executive vows to stay despite bonus row
A defiant Bill Sweeney has vowed to continue as chief executive of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, even as he faces a revolt within the game over his tenure.
Canelo vs Crawford is the super fight with a twist
Mexican idol and US star set for September meet as fight fixer Turki Alalshikh strikes again,
Consumer confidence in economy falls to new low’
Consumer expectations for the economy have plunged as the government faces continued pressure over public finances.
SLAVE TO THE BEAT
On 'Eusexua', her defiantly weird paean to the Prague rave scene, FKA twigs bends vital new electronic shapes, writes Helen Brown, while rapper Central Cee's debut delivers
Think kink: the distinctions between BDSM and abuse
Olivia Petter talks to sex educators about what differentiates a consensual sexual practice from abusive behaviour, and why it's so crucial for partners to understand these polarities
Air pollution crisis in focus ahead of Delhi's election
Toxic air in India’s capital, population more than 33 million, has become a key political issue,
Lost Tina Turner track casts light on her return to fame
A surprise treasure has been unearthed from Tina Turner's vaults: the previously unheard track \"Hot for You, Baby\", which was intended for use on her fifth solo album, Private Dancer.
Could Britain really join a European customs union?
Europe's new trade official responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has said a \"pan-European [customs] area\" is something the EU could consider as part of \"resetting\" relations between the UK post-Brexit and the EU.
