Theresa May refuses to back Boris's 'Brexit dividend' claim

Prime minister, touring UK, says ‘vast amounts of money’ will not go to Brussels so there will be more cash for NHS

Theresa May refused to back Boris Johnson’s claim that there would be a “Brexit dividend” to the UK as she toured the country to mark one year from leaving the European Union.

Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, health spending increased by an average of 1.2% above inflation and increases are due to continue in real terms at a similar rate until the end of this parliament. This is far below the annual inflation-proof growth rate that the NHS enjoyed before 2010 of almost 4% stretching back to the 1950s. As budgets tighten, NHS organisations have been struggling to live within their means. In the financial year 2015-16, acute trusts recorded a deficit of £2.6bn. This was reduced to £800m last year, though only after a £1.8bn bung from the Department of Health, which shows the deficit remained the same year on year.

Related: Hammond dismisses Johnson's talk of post-Brexit NHS dividend

Related: Liam Fox backs call to use 'Brexit dividend' to fund NHS

Continue reading... March 29, 2018 at 11:18PM