Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, has launched a blistering attack on Jeremy Hunt over the state of the National Health Service, exposing a major political vulnerability for the Conservatives. In a speech delivered in London, Burnham accused Hunt, the former health secretary, of presiding over a decade of underfunding and mismanagement that has left the NHS in crisis.
Burnham’s central argument
Burnham, who served as health secretary under Gordon Brown, argued that the NHS is now in a worse condition than at any point in its history. He pointed to waiting lists that have reached a record 7.2 million people, a figure that has more than doubled since Hunt left the Department of Health in 2018. Burnham also highlighted the ongoing strikes by junior doctors and nurses, which he said were a direct result of the government’s failure to invest in the workforce.
A political weak spot for the Tories
The attack comes at a time when the NHS is consistently rated as the most important issue for voters, according to opinion polls. Burnham’s speech was carefully timed to coincide with the anniversary of the NHS’s founding, and he used the occasion to call for a fundamental rethink of how the service is funded. “The NHS is not just a service; it is a symbol of our collective values,” Burnham said. “But under this government, it has been systematically run down.”
Burnham’s criticism of Hunt is particularly pointed because Hunt is widely seen as a potential future leader of the Conservative Party. By linking Hunt directly to the NHS’s problems, Burnham is attempting to damage his political standing ahead of any future leadership contest. According to a recent YouGov poll, 62% of voters believe the government is handling the NHS poorly, with only 18% expressing satisfaction.
The response from Hunt and the Conservatives
Jeremy Hunt, now the chancellor of the exchequer, responded to Burnham’s speech by defending his record. In a statement, Hunt said that during his time as health secretary, the NHS received record funding and that waiting times for cancer treatment and A&E were among the best on record. He also accused Burnham of playing politics with the NHS and failing to acknowledge the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Burnham’s allies argue that Hunt’s tenure was marked by a series of failed reforms, including the controversial Health and Social Care Act 2012, which they say created a market-based system that has undermined the NHS’s founding principles. “Jeremy Hunt’s legacy is one of cuts, privatisation, and chaos,” said a spokesperson for Burnham.
The Conservative Party has sought to shift the blame onto the Labour-run Welsh government, pointing out that NHS performance in Wales has also deteriorated. But Burnham dismissed this as a distraction, arguing that the government in Westminster holds the purse strings and must take responsibility for the NHS’s current state.
Implications for the next election
The exchange between Burnham and Hunt is a sign of the growing importance of the NHS as a political battleground. With an election expected within the next two years, both parties are jockeying for position on an issue that could decide the outcome. Labour has already pledged to increase NHS funding by 4% per year if elected, while the Conservatives have promised to protect the NHS budget in real terms.
Burnham’s intervention is also seen as an attempt to position himself as a key figure in the Labour Party’s campaign, despite not being a member of parliament. His popularity in the north of England, where the party needs to win back seats from the Conservatives, makes him a valuable asset. According to a recent poll, Burnham has a net approval rating of +18 among voters in the north, compared to Hunt’s -12.
Conclusion
Andy Burnham’s attack on Jeremy Hunt has laid bare the Conservatives’ vulnerability on the NHS. With waiting lists at record highs and public satisfaction at an all-time low, the health service is likely to be a defining issue at the next election. Burnham’s speech has set the stage for a fierce political battle, with both sides determined to win the argument over the future of the NHS.
