Keir Starmer is facing calls from MPs to scrap a controversial healthcare deal dubbed the “Trump tax” and redirect funds towards repairing the UK’s ailing social care system. The Liberal Democrats have criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly bowing to pressure from the US President in striking a new trade agreement, which experts predict could lead to a £3 billion annual increase in pharmaceutical costs. The government, however, disputes this projection, emphasizing that the deal secures favorable terms for pharmaceutical imports from the US.
Amid mounting pressure on the Prime Minister to expedite social care reforms, data reveals that over 4.3 million hospital days were unnecessarily occupied by patients who could have been cared for elsewhere by 2024/25. Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, accused Starmer of prioritizing appeasement over addressing the social care crisis, urging him to take decisive action and demonstrate his commitment to resolving the issue.
Although a cross-party commission on social care was announced by the government on January 3 last year, it has met only once since then, drawing criticism from Cooper for failing to deliver on transformational reforms. The Labour Party pledged to establish a National Care Service in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, with recommendations expected from a commission led by Baroness Louise Casey this year and final proposals anticipated by 2028.
While the UK-US trade deal has faced backlash for potentially inflating drug costs, the government refutes claims of a £3 billion increase, asserting that the agreement prioritizes access to essential medicines and safeguards supply chains. Furthermore, the government spokeswoman emphasized ongoing efforts to improve NHS efficiency and discharge processes, in collaboration with social care partners, to alleviate pressure on hospital beds and enhance patient care quality.
In a statement endorsing the trade deal, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., representing the US, commended President Trump for championing pharmaceutical trade reforms that benefit both nations. The agreement is positioned as a strategic move to enhance innovation in the pharmaceutical sector and foster balanced trade relations between the US and the UK.