Children born in Britain today should live to see the 22nd century and be part of the “healthiest generation” ever, according to Wes Streeting.
The shadow health secretary said Labour’s ambition for youngsters would involve taking action against those who are “cutting our children’s lives short”.
A ban on junk food adverts targeted at children, action against vaping companies pushing nicotine products on youngsters, breakfast clubs at every primary school and supervised toothbrushing were among the commitments reiterated by Mr Streeting.
I'm blunt about the fact that the NHS is no longer the envy of the world, not to undermine it, but to reassure people that we’ve noticed— Wes Streeting
He also received several standing ovations at Labour Party conference when reannouncing a series of other pledges, including £1.1 billion to help reduce the NHS backlog, more dentists, bringing “back the family doctor”, and a “fair pay agreement” for care professionals.
Speaking in Liverpool, Mr Streeting said: “Labour will never abandon the founding principles of the NHS as a publicly funded public service free at the point of use.
“I make the case for reform not in opposition to those principles but in defence of them.
“I’m blunt about the fact that the NHS is no longer the envy of the world, not to undermine it, but to reassure people that we’ve noticed.
“I argue that our NHS must modernise or die, not as a threat but a choice. The crisis really is that existential.”
After saying Labour’s reform agenda will “turn the NHS on its head”, Mr Streeting added: “A neighbourhood health service as much as a National Health Service, pioneering cutting-edge treatment and technology, preventing ill-health, not just treating it.”
Mr Streeting went on: “At the heart of (Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s) mission-driven approach is this idea: transformation of the National Health Service must go hand in hand with a transformation of the health of the nation.
“A child born in Britain today should live to see the 22nd century. I want them to be part of the healthiest generation that ever lived. That’s Labour’s ambition for children.”
After he issued a warning to the vaping industry, Mr Streeting recalled how his proposals earlier this year to outlaw the sale of cigarettes to the next generation was mocked by Tory MPs as “nanny state” and an “attack on ordinary people and their culture”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week pledged to phase out smoking by raising the age for buying cigarettes by a year every year, meaning those aged 14 now will never be able to purchase them legally.
Mr Streeting said: “Labour is winning the battle of ideas, and where Labour leads Rishi Sunak follows.
“We’ll vote through the ban on selling cigarettes to kids, so that young people are even less likely to smoke than they are to vote Tory.”
Mr Streeting said a “two-tier health service” would continue under the Conservatives.
The Labour MP for Ilford North was introduced on stage by Nathaniel Dye, who has stage four incurable bowel cancer and said in five years it is “all but certain that I will be dead”.
The school music teacher from Essex said: “Cancer has robbed me of a promising future.”
Keen runner Mr Dye highlighted delays he experienced in the health service, as he called cancer survivor Mr Streeting an “inspirational role model”.
He said: “It’s too late for me, but there’s one person I trust to save and transform our NHS.”
NHS chief executive Sir Julian Hartley, reacting to Mr Streeting’s speech, said: “With 1.9 million people on growing waiting lists for mental health care, Labour’s proposal to increase mental health support, including for children and young people, is of course welcome.
“However, this plan – as with all others – needs to be backed by proper staffing and infrastructure. We await the details of this.
“Similarly, a social care workforce plan should help ensure the sector, just like the NHS, is better equipped to manage rising demand from an ageing population with more complex needs.
“Trust leaders will welcome the promise of better investment in public health. This not only makes economic sense but would ease pressure on the NHS and ensure a healthier, happier population.”
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “This is just more of the same from Labour who will always take the easy way out and simply say what they think people want to hear.
“Wes Streeting can’t escape his party’s record in Wales, which is one of letting people down and not giving patients choice. It is now clear that he would not stand up to militant union leaders and his Labour colleagues out supporting them on the picket line who are the real block on reforming the NHS.”
