UK-US Trade Deal: NHS Not Up for Grabs, Says Health Secretary Wes Streeting

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The UK's Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated that the National Health Service (NHS) is "not up for grabs" in trade negotiations with the US. This comes after a meeting between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump, where they discussed the possibility of a new trade agreement. Streeting emphasized that while the UK is keen to deepen its trading relationship with the US, the NHS will not be included in any deal. He suggested that the UK and US could cooperate on areas such as life sciences and medical technology, which would benefit both countries.

Previous sticking points in US-UK trade talks have included access to the NHS and food standards. However, it is reported that the UK is now focusing on artificial intelligence and tech to avoid these issues. The UK's International Chamber of Commerce secretary general, Chris Southworth, has suggested that a deal could be achieved within six months if the UK avoids a full Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and instead focuses on finance and tech. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has urged the government to prioritize striking a better deal with Europe, while ensuring that any trade deal with the US does not undermine the NHS or food standards.

The possibility of a UK-US trade deal has been welcomed by some, with the potential to boost economic growth and cooperation between the two countries. However, others have expressed concerns over the impact on the NHS and other public services. The UK government has reassured that the NHS will not be included in any trade deal, and that the service will remain a publicly-funded and publicly-provided institution. As talks between the UK and US continue, it remains to be seen what areas of cooperation will be prioritized and how the NHS will be protected.

A timeline of events leading up to the current trade talks includes: * June 2019: US President Donald Trump says that everything is "on the table" in trade negotiations, including the NHS * December 2019: Trump says that he has no interest in the NHS and that it is not a priority in trade talks * February 2025: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets with Trump to discuss a new trade agreement * February 2025: UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting reassures that the NHS will not be included in trade negotiations The views of various stakeholders on the issue include: * Wes Streeting: The NHS is not up for grabs and will not be included in trade negotiations * Chris Southworth: A deal could be achieved within six months if the UK focuses on finance and tech * Daisy Cooper: The government should prioritize striking a better deal with Europe and ensure that the NHS is protected * Donald Trump: The US and UK could end up with a "real trade deal" that would make tariffs unnecessary

The UK government's policy points on the issue include: * The NHS will not be included in trade negotiations * The UK will prioritize cooperation on areas such as life sciences and medical technology * The government will ensure that any trade deal protects the NHS and other public services Statistical data on the issue includes: * The UK's trade deficit with the US was £32.4 billion in 2020 * The US is the UK's largest trading partner, accounting for 19% of UK exports * The NHS is one of the largest employers in the world, with over 1.2 million staff