Health Secretary Wes Streeting is poised to deliver a scathing critique of Reform UK's healthcare proposals, branding them as a costly scheme that prioritises wealth over wellbeing. In a speech scheduled for Saturday, Streeting will argue that Nigel Farage's plans would establish a system that "checks your pockets before your pulse and asks for your credit card before your care."
Substantial Financial Implications
According to calculations from civil servants at the Department of Health and Social Care, Reform UK's policy of offering 20% tax relief on private health insurance could drain public finances by approximately £1.7 billion annually. This estimate utilises data from healthcare consultancy LaingBuisson, which values the UK's private healthcare market at around £8.6 billion.
Streeting will present these findings at a Fabian Society conference in central London, describing the proposal as a "tax cut for the wealthiest" that would disproportionately benefit those already able to afford private medical cover. The event will also feature appearances from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Labour's Deputy Leader Lucy Powell.
Reform's Healthcare Vision
Before the 2024 general election, Reform UK pledged to introduce tax relief on private healthcare policies, arguing this measure would alleviate pressure on the National Health Service by encouraging more people to seek private treatment. Party leader Nigel Farage reinforced this commitment last summer, stating: "Perhaps if we gave people a bit of tax relief on paying for private health care, we might just relieve the pressure off the National Health Service."
However, Streeting will counter that Farage has explicitly rejected the publicly funded model that has sustained the NHS since 1948. "Farage says he wants an insurance-based system of healthcare," Streeting will tell delegates. "Just last year, he rejected the public funding model, saying: 'I do not want it funded through general taxation. It does not work.'"
Political Battle Lines
The health secretary will position the NHS as a central issue in upcoming local election campaigns, where Reform UK is anticipated to make substantial gains. Streeting will argue that Reform's proposal represents the first step toward dismantling the NHS's founding principles.
"Reform is committed to spending £1.7bn, not on staff, buildings, or technology, but on tax relief for customers of private healthcare," Streeting will assert. "This tax cut for the wealthiest would be the first step on the road to Farage's insurance system. It's alright for mister moneybags. We know he can afford it. But what about those who can't?"
Current Private Healthcare Landscape
The majority of private healthcare coverage in Britain is provided through employer-sponsored schemes, valued at approximately £5 billion annually. Individual insurance policies account for another £3.6 billion. Employees currently pay income tax on company healthcare benefits at their standard rate, with the basic rate standing at 20%.
Government calculations assume Reform's proposed 20% tax relief would apply equally to both corporate and individual plans. Those purchasing personal coverage have typically already paid income tax on the funds used for premiums, though they often face an additional insurance premium charge of around 12%.
Defending NHS Principles
Streeting will frame the debate as a fundamental conflict over healthcare values. "We should be in no doubt that the founding principles of the NHS are now contested terrain," he will declare. "And it falls to Labour to defend them. A publicly funded public service, free at the point of use. Back on its feet and fit for the future. Those are Labour's values, those are Britain's values and this is a fight we will win."
The health secretary will further criticise Reform UK's political positioning, suggesting the party "poses as the voice of the people while working for the interests of the powerful." Streeting will add: "No wonder they are such an attractive destination for Boris Johnson's Conservatives."
This confrontation highlights the deepening ideological divide over healthcare funding in Britain, with Labour positioning itself as the defender of universal public healthcare against what it characterises as Reform UK's market-oriented approach.
