Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner denied in the ITV Election Debate on June 13 that shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he would “hold the door open to the private sector”.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “What Angela’s refusing to admit there is what was referred to earlier, which is the shadow health secretary essentially saying that he’s going to hold the door open to the private sector. He did say that…”

“That’s not true,” Ms Rayner interjected.

She went on to say: “Wes Streeting has said in order to bring the record high waiting list down that we would use up capacity in the private sector.”

Mr Streeting did say that Labour are “going to be holding the door wide open and encouraging them to come”, when speaking about entrepreneurs who are “coming up with cutting-edge treatments” in the health sector.

In an interview with an i newspaper podcast, Mr Streeting said: “I want those entrepreneurs that are coming up with cutting-edge treatments and technologies to know that when they come up with a great idea that can deliver better outcomes for patients and better value for taxpayers’ money, they’re not going to struggle to get through the front door of the NHS.

“We’re going to be holding the door wide open and encouraging them to come in.”

In a speech in 2023 to the NHS Confederation, Mr Streeting said Labour wanted: “A single front door for innovators. No more shopping products or trials to each and every NHS trust. Where they can help, we will hold the door open and usher you through.”

ITV Election Debate, on YouTube

Archived newspaper article about Wes Streeting on podcast

Policy Mogul – Wes Streeting speech to NHS Confederation (archived)