Shadow Health Secretary jokes Boris Johnson is a 'Big Leftie in Disguise'

Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth has teased Tory MPs for all of the seemingly left wing policies their leader has been enacting.

Speaking to GB News, Ashworth said: “You’ve got Tory MPs in here who have been forced to lock down their constituents, who are now going to be introducing vaccine passports - a form of ID, and now they’re putting up tax!”

He went on to say Tory MPs were thinking "what's going on with Boris Johnson, he's not a Tory is he, he's a big leftie in disguise."

When asked whether he agrees with those Tory MPs, however, Ashworth clarified that he believes "this is a very reactionary government, I don't remotely think this is the government stealing the Labour Party's clothes on this".

The Government will be keeping a “really close eye” on how extra funding will be spent by the NHS, a minister has said, amid fears cash eventually destined for social care could be swallowed up by the health service.

Boris Johnson saw off a potential Tory rebellion on Wednesday over his plan to bring is £12 billion extra a year for the NHS and adult social care through a rise in national insurance.

Under the plans announced by the Prime Minister the NHS will get the bulk of the £36 billion raised in the first three years, with £5.4 billion for social care in England.

That balance is expected to tip towards social care in subsequent years as the £86,000 cap on costs introduced from October 2023 starts to require funding.

But MPs and experts have raised concerns that little might be left available for social care in three years time.

And these concerns were compounded by reports that the health service was advertising for dozens of managers on salaries of up to £270,000.