This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/07/what-theresa-may-told-andrew-marr-nhs-rail-fares-brexit-trump
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| What May told Marr: the PM's thoughts on NHS, rail fares, Brexit and Trump | What May told Marr: the PM's thoughts on NHS, rail fares, Brexit and Trump |
| (8 days later) | |
| Aside from the imminent reshuffle, here’s what else came up in the prime minister’s traditional new year Sunday interview | |
| Andrew Sparrow Political correspondent | |
| Sun 7 Jan 2018 13.58 GMT | |
| Last modified on Sun 7 Jan 2018 22.00 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| In recent years it has become traditional for the prime minister to start the year with an interview on a Sunday politics programme. The BBC’s Andrew Marr got Theresa May this year, and the pair covered a wide range of topics in the exchange, which was pre-recorded in May’s Maidenhead constituency before being broadcast on Sunday morning. | In recent years it has become traditional for the prime minister to start the year with an interview on a Sunday politics programme. The BBC’s Andrew Marr got Theresa May this year, and the pair covered a wide range of topics in the exchange, which was pre-recorded in May’s Maidenhead constituency before being broadcast on Sunday morning. |
| Marr asked about the forthcoming reshuffle and May arrived with prepared announcements about a review of what the Parole Board can reveal about how it takes decisions and about the creation of a new forest in the north. | Marr asked about the forthcoming reshuffle and May arrived with prepared announcements about a review of what the Parole Board can reveal about how it takes decisions and about the creation of a new forest in the north. |
| Here are some of the other topics that came up. | Here are some of the other topics that came up. |
| NHS | NHS |
| May brushed aside calls for a radical rethink of the way the NHS is funded, suggesting innovation and “best practice” were just as important as money in improving the service. She accepted that the NHS was facing problems this winter, saying at one point “nothing’s perfect” as part of a response to a question about a stroke victim waiting hours to see a doctor. But generally she defended the NHS, and her government’s record, saying more people were being treated than ever before and the government had given the NHS more money, not just for the winter but for the years ahead. | May brushed aside calls for a radical rethink of the way the NHS is funded, suggesting innovation and “best practice” were just as important as money in improving the service. She accepted that the NHS was facing problems this winter, saying at one point “nothing’s perfect” as part of a response to a question about a stroke victim waiting hours to see a doctor. But generally she defended the NHS, and her government’s record, saying more people were being treated than ever before and the government had given the NHS more money, not just for the winter but for the years ahead. |
| When Marr put it to her that, despite the extra spending on health, the NHS was continuing to go from crisis to crisis, and that Tories such as Sir Oliver Letwin thought the only solution was some form of hypothecated NHS tax, May refused to accept this. “You keep talking about the money but actually what you also need to look at is how the NHS works, how it operates,” May said. | When Marr put it to her that, despite the extra spending on health, the NHS was continuing to go from crisis to crisis, and that Tories such as Sir Oliver Letwin thought the only solution was some form of hypothecated NHS tax, May refused to accept this. “You keep talking about the money but actually what you also need to look at is how the NHS works, how it operates,” May said. |
| Although money was a factor, “we also need to ensure that we’re seeing across the whole NHS the best possible practice”, said May, citing as an example what she had seen on a recent visit to a hospital that was cooperating with GPs to reduce the number of elderly people being admitted to hospital. | Although money was a factor, “we also need to ensure that we’re seeing across the whole NHS the best possible practice”, said May, citing as an example what she had seen on a recent visit to a hospital that was cooperating with GPs to reduce the number of elderly people being admitted to hospital. |
| Marr asked specifically about a stroke victim in Essex who recently had to wait five hours to see a hospital doctor. He said that if he had had to wait that long when he had his stroke, “I would not be here talking to you”. | Marr asked specifically about a stroke victim in Essex who recently had to wait five hours to see a hospital doctor. He said that if he had had to wait that long when he had his stroke, “I would not be here talking to you”. |
| May said she did not know about the case, and she recognised people would be concerned about such experiences. She added: “If we look at what is happening across the NHS, what we see is that actually the NHS is delivering for more people, it is treating more people and more people are being seen within the four hours every day than has been a few years ago. But of course nothing’s perfect and there is more for us to do.” | May said she did not know about the case, and she recognised people would be concerned about such experiences. She added: “If we look at what is happening across the NHS, what we see is that actually the NHS is delivering for more people, it is treating more people and more people are being seen within the four hours every day than has been a few years ago. But of course nothing’s perfect and there is more for us to do.” |
| She brushed aside Marr’s argument that a £6bn cut in the social care budget was a factor. She said the government was working on a long-term plan for a sustainable solution to social care, but she would not give any details. | She brushed aside Marr’s argument that a £6bn cut in the social care budget was a factor. She said the government was working on a long-term plan for a sustainable solution to social care, but she would not give any details. |
| Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, accused May of complacency. He told the same programme: “She hasn’t got a plan to get those people off the trolleys and corridors. Her only plan apparently is to promote this health secretary. They should be demoting this health secretary. If she promotes this health secretary tomorrow it’s a betrayal of those 75,000 people in the back of ambulances.” | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, accused May of complacency. He told the same programme: “She hasn’t got a plan to get those people off the trolleys and corridors. Her only plan apparently is to promote this health secretary. They should be demoting this health secretary. If she promotes this health secretary tomorrow it’s a betrayal of those 75,000 people in the back of ambulances.” |
| Rail fares | Rail fares |
| May defended this year’s average rail fare increase of 3.4%, the highest for five years, saying commuters had to contribute to investment. Asked about the increase, she said: “Since privatisation, usage of the railways has doubled and we have seen the biggest investments since Victorian times in our railways. A lot of people rely on our railways. We want to see good service on our railways but that does mean that investment is needed.” | May defended this year’s average rail fare increase of 3.4%, the highest for five years, saying commuters had to contribute to investment. Asked about the increase, she said: “Since privatisation, usage of the railways has doubled and we have seen the biggest investments since Victorian times in our railways. A lot of people rely on our railways. We want to see good service on our railways but that does mean that investment is needed.” |
| East Coast rail franchise bailout | East Coast rail franchise bailout |
| May refused to deny that taxpayers would lose out from the East Coast rail franchise bailout ordered by Chris Grayling, the transport secretary. Virgin Trains East Coast, a partnership between Virgin and Stagecoach, had agreed to pay the government £3.3bn to run the service until 2023. Grayling let them pull out three years early. When Marr asked May if the taxpayer would still get the £3.3bn, she said Virgin and Stagecoach were “still paying money to the government”. Marr responded: “So the answer is no.” | May refused to deny that taxpayers would lose out from the East Coast rail franchise bailout ordered by Chris Grayling, the transport secretary. Virgin Trains East Coast, a partnership between Virgin and Stagecoach, had agreed to pay the government £3.3bn to run the service until 2023. Grayling let them pull out three years early. When Marr asked May if the taxpayer would still get the £3.3bn, she said Virgin and Stagecoach were “still paying money to the government”. Marr responded: “So the answer is no.” |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| May said she expected to reach an agreement with the EU on a transition – or “the implementation period”, as she put it – by the end of March. She indicated that she expected the “meaningful vote” parliament has been promised on the final Brexit deal to take place before the end of the year. | May said she expected to reach an agreement with the EU on a transition – or “the implementation period”, as she put it – by the end of March. She indicated that she expected the “meaningful vote” parliament has been promised on the final Brexit deal to take place before the end of the year. |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| May dismissed claims that Trump’s mental health was a matter of serious concern. When it was put to her that questions were being asked about his mental health in the US, and she was asked whether f she thought those concerns were serious, she replied: “No.” She continued: “When I deal with President Trump, what I see is somebody who is committed to ensuring that he is taking decisions in the best interests of the United States.” She confirmed Trump would be coming to the UK. A visit is expected in February. | May dismissed claims that Trump’s mental health was a matter of serious concern. When it was put to her that questions were being asked about his mental health in the US, and she was asked whether f she thought those concerns were serious, she replied: “No.” She continued: “When I deal with President Trump, what I see is somebody who is committed to ensuring that he is taking decisions in the best interests of the United States.” She confirmed Trump would be coming to the UK. A visit is expected in February. |
| Foxhunting | Foxhunting |
| May confirmed she had abandoned plans to hold a vote on repealing the ban on fox hunting. “If I look back at the messages that we got from the election, one of the clear messages we got is that there are a number of areas in which people were concerned about what we were proposing,” she said. “On this issue of foxhunting, what I can say is that there won’t be a vote during this parliament.” | May confirmed she had abandoned plans to hold a vote on repealing the ban on fox hunting. “If I look back at the messages that we got from the election, one of the clear messages we got is that there are a number of areas in which people were concerned about what we were proposing,” she said. “On this issue of foxhunting, what I can say is that there won’t be a vote during this parliament.” |
| Theresa May | |
| Transport policy | |
| Health policy | |
| Brexit | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |