- Boris Johnson faced tough questions about his leadership and promises during a pre-election debate in Parliament
- His political opponent Jeremy Corbyn accused him of failing to deliver on pledges related to the NHS
- Johnson defended his record and vowed major new investments if re-elected
Was Boris Johnson really a strong leader for the UK? This pre-election clash raises some big doubts.
Johnson Denies Planning to Sell Out NHS
In his first question, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed Johnson had discussed allowing higher drug prices in future trade deals. He accused the Prime Minister of planning a sellout deal with Donald Trump that could undermine the National Health Service (NHS).
Johnson denied this firmly, stating, The NHS is not on the table in any trade talks. He argued his government was securing good deals to provide affordable treatments for UK patients.
Dueling Claims Over NHS Investment
A key point of contention was Johnson’s promise of 40 new hospitals for the NHS. Corbyn said this figure kept dropping, from 40 down to just 6 hospitals.
Johnson insisted his party was investing massively in the NHS if re-elected, citing planned record funding of ยฃ34 billion. He claimed cancer survival rates were rising thanks to current government policies.
Personal Attacks and Fiery Exchanges
The debate featured several testy exchanges and personal jabs between the two leaders. At one point, Corbyn accused Johnson of talking nonsense while Johnson labeled some of Corbyn’s criticism as coming from out of his mind.
Observers noted a strong personal animosity between the pair beyond just policy differences. One analyst described a healthy contempt mixed with genuine nastiness in their relationship.
A Defining Clash Before the Pivotal Election
This fiery session proved to be one of the final confrontations between Johnson and Corbyn before the UK’s December 2019 general election. It highlighted sharply contrasting visions for the country on major issues like the NHS, the economy, and Brexit.
What did you think of their back-and-forth over Johnson’s record and campaign promises? Did you find either leader more convincing on investing in vital public services? The election outcome would soon put these debates to the real test.