Doctor, doctor!

 

Doctor, doctor!

By Sam Blewett

January 6, 2025 8:00 am CET

 

London Playbook

By SAM BLEWETT

https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/doctor-doctor/

with BETHANY DAWSON

 

Good Monday morning. This is Sam Blewett.

 

DRIVING THE DAY

THERE’S CERTAINLY A BACKLOG: Keir Starmer will use a major speech to unveil his plan to end the NHS backlog, hoping to hit the ground running after his Christmas break. But the prime minister’s latest bid to win over an already weary public could be overshadowed by other problems that have been piling up in his absence — not least Elon Musk’s online assaults. Expect to see Starmer defend his record as a crimefighter … while trying to contain his joy about Donald Trump’s billionaire buddy spectacularly turning on Nigel Farage.

 

Madeira, how sunny you were: Starmer will visit a health care facility in the southeast with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and NHS boss Amanda Pritchard. The PM will deliver his remarks from around 10 a.m. before a Q&A with the media. No better way to get over the post-holiday blues.

 

Starmer’s orders: An extra 450,000 appointments will be offered for tests and checks at extended community diagnostic centers being opened 12 hours a day, seven days a week to tackle a waiting list of 7.5 million. Seventeen new and expanded surgical hubs are being promised by June. And that’s on top of the well-trailed plans to overhaul the NHS app to give patients greater control of their treatment.

 

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Into the weeds: The “elective reform plan” being published by NHS England here at 11 a.m. will set out how it aims to hit the target of treating 65 percent of patients within 18 weeks by March next year. That’s being described in Whitehall as a “stepping stone” toward Labour’s key election pledge of hitting 92 percent by the end of the parliament. Currently, the figure stands at 59 percent.

 

A tough crowd: Only the Times splashes on the trail of the plans, thanks to Starmer scribbling his “prescription” for the NHS in an op-ed for the paper. The PM pledges to “drag care out of the hospital and into the community” and describes the NHS as showing “all the symptoms of chronic illness.”

 

The reception so far: The King’s Fund warned the 18-week referral-to-treatment target mustn’t be the sole measure of the NHS when GP appointments and ambulance waits are also key. The Lib Dems snappily describe it as “putting hip replacements over heart attacks.” Both the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association naturally argued that it’ll all go to pot without sorting out the staffing crisis.

 

THE BIG STINK: Starmer hasn’t faced public scrutiny since before parliament slunk off into recess, so the questions have been mounting — but the PM will be most wary of being asked about the ever-more-outlandish claims by Musk. The wannabe space traveler spent the festive period suddenly expressing an interest in grooming gangs and the PM’s time as director of public prosecutions, accusing Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain.”

 

“Prison for Starmer,” Musk posted in the last hour as Playbook was getting ready to go to pixel, minutes after claiming Gordon Brown committed an “unforgivable crime against the British people” by allegedly failing to stop grooming gangs when he was in office. Brace yourself for a lot more of this. 

 

Holding his nose: Playbook hears the PM is planning to defend his record in taking on grooming gangs rather than trying to get into a slanging match with the X man, no matter how much he agitates. The Times’ Steven Swinford has more detail, reporting that Starmer will say he gave the “green light” to prosecuting pedophile gangs in Rochdale in 2013 and highlight reforms he introduced to how the CPS handles child abuse cases.

 

But will this be enough? The i’s Eleanor Langford hears senior Labour figures are urging Starmer to stand up to the tech billionaire, particularly given he said safeguarding minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for turning down a public inquiry into historic sexual abuse in Oldham, in favor of a council-led investigation. Streeting went in strong on Sunday by accusing Musk of a “disgraceful smear,” but it seems Starmer won’t go nearly as far. 

 

Excuse all the noise: Alexis Jay, who chaired the wider national inquiry into child sexual abuse, last night distanced herself from calls to set up new hearings. But she’s using the row to press the government for a timeline for adopting her recommendations from 2022. Her Act on IICSA group warned against “politicizing” sexual violence and hit out against “misinformation.” The BBC has more.

 

ON THE SPINNING WHEEL OF QUESTIONS: Starmer could well be asked about his dire polling … Trump’s hatred of “windmills” and taste for draining North Sea oil … the government’s long-old look at social care … and defense spending, considering the alarming reporting by the Sunday Times on Britain’s vulnerability to ballistic missiles.

 

But a really awkward line of inquiry … centers on Tulip Siddiq, as the City minister comes under mounting pressure over her ties to Bangladesh’s deposed regime. Reports in the FT and the Sunday Times over the weekend connected the Starmer ally to London properties linked to the Awami League party led by her aunt Sheikh Hasina, the ousted former Bangladeshi PM.

 

Tulip mania: Downing Street insists the PM still has confidence in the minister, whose brief includes tackling financial crime and corruption. But a senior Labour official admitted to the FT’s team that the leadership was finding it “hard to defend” her personal financial affairs, saying it’s “becoming a millstone.” Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on Starmer to stand Siddiq down until she explains the “source of her wealth.”

 

WHAT A YEAR: Six days into 2025 and it’s already a wild ride. Check out our look at the 11 deadly tripwires Starmer will be trying to hop over in the months ahead here — and then tune into Politics at Jack and Sam’s, which returns to your podcast feeds from 7.30 a.m. with the usual rundown of the day ahead.

 

IT’S NOT ALRIGHT ON THE RIGHT

GUESS WHO’S BACK: Dominating most of the front pages and the BBC bulletins last night was Musk taking aim at Farage — and calling for the Reform boss to be replaced. Acting like a scattergun skunk spraying its odor in all directions, the X owner showed how he’s not just a pain for Labour but for the (less extreme) right as well, as he continued to blow a very dirty trumpet in support of Tommy Robinson.

 

Hold onto your flat caps: Musk’s call for a new Reform UK leader because “Farage doesn’t have what it takes” very much caught the Brexiteer off guard. “Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree,” Farage posted. “My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.” One Reform official (euphemistically) admitted to Playbook the “interesting” Sunday on social media meant he’s “reconsidered my position on dry January.”

 

In case you’ve fled to Bluesky: Musk and Farage have been at loggerheads over Robinson in recent days. The Tesla titan has called for the far-right activist’s release from an 18-month jail sentence, characterizing him as a political prisoner. But Farage has maintained his long-held position that Robinson shouldn’t be allowed to join his party and (correctly) pointed out he was banged up for contempt of court.

 

Peak Partridge: Musk’s missive came just hours after the BBC put out Laura Kuenssberg’s interview with Farage in which he suggested Musk “may well” donate a load of dough to Reform (as they’ve been seeking). Regardless, Farage said, Musk’s support meant “with huge numbers of young people he makes us look cool.”

 

Farage … staying quiet?? The MP wasn’t planning to make any further comment on the big row on the right today. Instead, Playbook hears Farage intends to chime up about *that* e-petition calling for a fresh general election when it’s debated in Westminster Hall from 4.30 p.m. Hacks may well doorstep the debate to see if he’ll open up anyway.

 

How Lowe can you go: Musk had a suggestion for Farage’s successor. Step forward Great Yarmouth MP and former Southampton Football Club Chair Rupert Lowe. The former MEP thanked Musk for his “kind comments” and praised Robinson’s “role in exposing these gangs” … which seems a little warmer than the Farage line.

 

Whatever next? Musk also fired off a post saying “Good for Kemi Badenoch!” after she backed calls for a national inquiry.

 

All these gifts for the content machine … underline just how tricky it is for the PM to get his message across. Still, could be harder. Donald Trump’s not in the White House just yet. That’s two weeks from today.

 

TODAY IN WESTMINSTER

WELCOME BACK: MPs are making their glorious return from their Christmas recess this afternoon and there could be urgent questions or ministerial statements on pretty much any of the aforementioned subjects.

 

OFF THE BOIL: The government is going to officially scrap the Tory-era plans to ban new gas boilers from 2035, according to the i’s Hugo Gye. The government will confirm a de facto ban on gas boilers being installed in new homes later this year, with the measures coming into force by the end of 2030, Gye writes.

 

MONEY TROUBLES: Since Rachel Reeves’ budget, 63 percent of businesses say tax is a concern, up from 48 percent in the third quarter, according to the British Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey. That makes the front page of the Telegraph.

 

SCOOTER SAFETY: The Mail reports e-scooter collisions have trebled in three years. Rebecca Williams, the daughter of Linda Davis — the first pedestrian to be killed in an e-scooter collision in the U.K. — calls for “compulsory basic training” for e-scooter riders.

 

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE … Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch took to X to defend Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick after former Conservative SpAd Samuel Kasumu said he has the potential to be the “most divisive person in our political history.” That’s all very loyal, considering Tim Shipman reported a Jenrick ally described him as “willing to do anything to become leader,” while another likened him to Macbeth.

 

MORE SMALL BOAT WORRIES: Organized gangs could make a “very big push” to get migrants across the Channel come the spring, the National Crime Agency’s Rob Jones told the Express. The comment makes the splash.

 

REPORTS OUT TODAY: Policy Exchange says the two candidates to lead the Muslim Council of Britain have “deeply disturbing” views … The percentage of families in poverty where no adult works has fallen from 50 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2022, according to the Resolution Foundation.

 

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with defense questions … a backbench business debate on seizing frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine (led by Lib Dem MP Mike Martin) … a backbench business debate on NHS backlogs (Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan) … and motions on committee nominations. Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty has the adjournment debate on funding for policing in Cambridgeshire.

 

WESTMINSTER HALL: Debate from 4.30 p.m. on the e-petition calling for a general election (led by Lib Dem MP and petitions committee chair Jamie Stone).

 

HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with questions on affordable housing, the review of security and counter-terrorism, and rail fares … the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill has its second reading, and there’s a motion to regret.