Jeremy Hunt hits back at Tory minister who said NHS is a 'Ponzi scheme'
2 min read
Jeremy Hunt has rejected a claim from one of his fellow ministers that the NHS is a type of “Ponzi scheme”.
The Health Secretary said he “fundamentally disagreed” with the suggestion by Justice Minister and former GP Philip Lee.
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment system whereby cash from new investors is used to pay old investors. It is also known as a pyramid scheme.
Mr Lee warned at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference in Manchester that the rising costs of healthcare and pensions liabilities were unsustainable and could fall apart in 20 years.
He said it was unfair to tell younger people they would face more tax "because this Ponzi scheme that we've had in play for pensions and for healthcare and for social care for the past 30 years is about to collapse”.
But Mr Hunt told Sky News: "Phillip Lee and I have disagreed about the health service in the past, and while I respect his work in the NHS, I fundamentally disagree with that characterisation."
NURSES PLAN 'WON'T REVERSE DAMAGE'
Meanwhile Mr Hunt will use his speech at the conference today to announce 5,000 new degree places for nurses and funding for 5,500 new apprentice nurses.
He will also say nurses will be prioritised for affordable housing built on surplus NHS land.
But Labour said: "Today's announcement won't reverse the damage this Government has already done.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
