Angela Rayner mocked for Labour pledge to build hospital that already exists
Angela Rayner has been mocked for a Labour pledge to build a cancer centre that already exists.
The party vowed in a press release on Tuesday to “build Cumberland cancer hospital” in Carlisle, Cumbria.
But it has already been built and was opened in 2021 after it was added to the list of “40 new hospitals” the Conservatives pledged to build by 2030.
Tom Sheldrick, political correspondent for ITV News Border, confronted Ms Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, on the blunder in an awkward interview aboard the party’s battle bus.
The journalist asked her: “That was done and it was opened in 2021, it’s the Northern Centre for Cancer Care here in Carlisle, isn’t it?”
Ms Rayner appeared to flounder as she sought to answer the question.
“Yes we need to improve, what Wes [Streeting, the shadow health secretary] was setting out actually is that we’ve had these broken promises of 40 new hospitals and he said that we will continue that programme which is right,” she said.
“We’ll go further than that, because here in Cumbria and here in Carlisle, in particular, people are waiting longer to get appointments, whether that’s cancer treatments, or whether that’s other operations they need.
“So our programme to deliver those additional hospital appointments will actually affect real change for people here.”
Her comments came despite Labour issuing a press release hours earlier, which said: “Labour has set out its commitment to deliver the programme, confirming it would build Cumberland Cancer Hospital and upgrade Shotley Bridge Hospital.
“This is part of the party’s plan to get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.”
The Labour Party has since described the press release as an administrative error.
Mr Sheldrick pressed Ms Rayner on whether this “shows that Labour doesn’t understand this area”.
She responded: “Well I understand the area well, it’s the area that used to be my patch when I was [in] the Unison public services union.”
She added that “I’ve not seen the press release” whilst smiling, prompting Mr Sheldrick to show it to her.
“Well, great, but I think most people will recognise that our NHS is seeing record waiting lists at the moment and we really need to tackle that,” she responded.
Ms Rayner was joined by Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, as they met with local party members in Carlisle.
Labour currently holds no seats in the region after Conservative Mark Jenkinson won Workington in 2019, which is part of the so-called Red Wall of former red-supporting areas in the Midlands and north of England.
