BRADFORD South MP Judith Cummins has called on the Government to rule out putting the NHS on the negotiating table for future trade deals. 

During a debate, Mrs Cummins, who is also Shadow International Trade Minister, said: “The British public are absolutely clear,  they do not want the NHS to be bargained away as part of a trade deal, they do not want companies to have the right to sue our Government for decisions taken in the interests of public health, and they do not want drug prices to be pushed up by American pharmaceutical giants.”

Reacting to Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister this week, she said: “[Boris Johnson] has repeatedly stated that he sees concluding a quick trade deal, with the US as an absolute priority.”

She said: “Bargaining away our proudest national institution to get a quick trade deal would be an irreversible mistake.

"It does not matter what the US or any other country offers in return, we must never allow any future prime minister to use our NHS as a bargaining tool.”