Keir Starmer wants to reform the British state, making it more efficient and less bureaucratic.
He announced the abolition of NHS England, aiming to shift money to the front lines.
Transcript:
Keir Starmer
To cut bureaucracy across the state, focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the front line. So I'm bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arm's length body NHS England.
Jon Sopel
So Keir Starmer, as part of this drive to make the British state more efficient, leaner, saying that he would abolish, as his health secretary, West Reading, has told the Commons today, The world's biggest quango, NHS England, a body that was set up in 2012 by the Cameron government to take the day-to decisions about the NHS away from ministers, away from elected politicians And into the hands of experts who it was said would be able to run it more efficiently. Keir Starmer saying that that body at some point will be abolished. And of course, a great deal of uncertainty for how the NHS will then be run. Lots of unanswered questions. And of course, for the 12,000 people who currently work for it. (Time 0:02:38)
Kremlin Rejects Ceasefire
While Starmer spoke, the Kremlin rejected short-term ceasefire proposals.
This adds to the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine.
Transcript:
Lewis Goodall
Whilst he was on the stage, Lewis, you noticed the flash from the FT. Funnily enough, none of the other journalists who were in the room who asked questions afterwards had noticed this. But the foreign affairs advisor to Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin had told Russian TV, we're not interested in a short term ceasefire. Keepers on the ground to enforce a peace, which you've kind of got to ask, well, then what is left of the plan that was agreed in Saudi Arabia if Russia is not in the least bit interested? Maybe it's a negotiating ploy we shall see over the coming days. We obviously ask Keir Starmer about all of that, but we started with his comments on the reorganisation of NHS England. And (Time 0:03:39)
NHS England Abolition
Starmer defends his decision to abolish NHS England, citing duplication of roles.
He emphasizes the need to redirect funds to frontline services.
Transcript:
Lewis Goodall
So fundamentally reformed.
Jon Sopel
Prime Minister, thanks so much for joining us this afternoon, being on the newsagents. Speaking at the Labour conference back in September, your health secretary said that another top-down reorganisation was the very last thing that he wanted to do. Do you accept that that is precisely what you've just announced in the abolition of NHS England? No, I don't. I'm talking about something very straightforward.
Keir Starmer
You've got NHS England, which has a team of communications officers, and you've got the department's got a team of communication officers. NHS England got a team of strategists and policy workers, you've got the equivalent in the department. That is, when you've got to make money go as far as it can in the the health service, that just does not make sense. And what it does is free up the money to go to the front line, which in my view is where it should be. I also think that most of the change that we're bringing about in the health service is driven from the front line. I'm really struck by what the front line have to say. I did this when I was chief prosecutor. I'm doing it again. And we go to elective hubs, for example, where these are these hospitals that they set up, which are basically Factories for operations. They're really brilliant And I've been talking to the staff there and they have lots of ideas about change that we're driving through but taking out duplication Which doesn't make Sense, is not top down. (Time 0:04:48)
Starmer's Vision for the State
Starmer believes in an active state, unlike Conservatives who favor free markets.
He criticizes the current state as oversized and underpowered, hindering effective governance.
Transcript:
Keir Starmer
But briefly, Prime Minister, you've spoken in your speech about the size of the state.
Jon Sopel
You've talked about the fact in your Telegraph article that it was 12,000 bigger in terms of headcount than it was before the referendum. Do you think simply that the state should be smaller by the end of this parliament? Fewer people should be working for it?
Keir Starmer
Yes, I think it should be smaller, more agile. It should be active. And this is the political difference. By and large, conservatives don't believe in the state. They think the free market should do the work. That's why they think the state should be smaller. I believe in the state. I think it should be active. I think it should be sleeves rolled up. It should be on the pitch making a difference. But at the moment, what we've got is an oversized and underpowered state, (Time 0:07:37)
Reaction to Ceasefire Rejection
Russia's rejection of a ceasefire doesn't surprise Starmer, given their past actions.
He stresses the importance of a lasting peace with security guarantees for Ukraine.
Transcript:
Lewis Goodall
The complete opposite of the active state that I believe would make a big difference. Prime Minister, the other theme of your speech was the era of uncertainty in which we live. In the last hour, while you were on stage, Kremlin spokesman has said that they are not interested in a short-term ceasefire. What is your reaction? What should happen now?
Keir Starmer
Well, firstly, keep our focus on a lasting and secure peace in Ukraine, which is what we all want. It doesn't entirely surprise me that Russia's taking this stance. They've made it pretty clear. They've put it in lights a number of times over. Has Donald Trump had too much faith in Vladimir Putin? Well, I think progress was made on Tuesday. And I always felt that and hoped that out of Tuesday, that would put the ball in the Russian court, if you like, where the pressure would come on Russia. That has now happened. That is a good thing because Russia's the aggressor. Russia is the country that where there have been previous deals and agreement has not honored those. And we know that Putin has ambitions that are barely disguised. So I'm not surprised that we've got to this point. What we need to do now is work with our allies, work with the US, work with Ukraine. And obviously, I've got this meeting in on Saturday to bring a number of leaders together to see what further progress that we can make. But lasting, secure peace with the sovereignty and security of Ukraine. But it has to be a peace where the deal is defended, because we've had a deal before and it's not being maintained because Russia just breaches the line.
Jon Sopel
And Prime Minister, do you think that we should take from this, the world should take from this, that Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace, he's just interested in winning? Well, he's being put to the test.
Keir Starmer
And he is saying, and he said before, that he doesn't want security guarantees in relation to the deal. That tells you something. If you don't intend to breach the deal, you wouldn't have too many problems with guarantee for the deal. We know that in the past he's breached the deal. So his reaction reinforces my strong belief that if the deal is not defended with security guarantees, then he will breach it in due course at the moment of his choosing. (Time 0:08:20)
Dialogue with Russia
Starmer believes dialogue with Russia is necessary for lasting peace, but terms must be clear.
He supports US-Russia talks, but emphasizes the need for a secure and sovereign Ukraine.
Transcript:
Keir Starmer
Is there anything left to talk to Vladimir Putin about as far as you're concerned?
Jon Sopel
Sorry, about it? Is there anything left that's worth talking to Vladimir Putin about as far as you're concerned? Oh, yes.
Keir Starmer
I mean, if there's going to be a lasting peace, then obviously it's right that the US talk to the Russians, that President Trump speaks to Putin. That has to happen. But we need to be clear about what the terms of this are, which is a lasting and secure peace with a sovereign Ukraine that can actually make its own decisions about its defence capability And a secure Ukraine.
Lewis Goodall
We've seen the pressure that Donald Trump has put on Zelensky. Do you think he is prepared to put the same pressure on Vladimir Putin in terms of sanctions, whatever? Well, I think he's already indicated in some of his remarks in the last 24 hours that he's prepared to do so.
Keir Starmer
And look, I've spent quite a bit of time with President Trump face to face. I've spoken to him a lot on the phone recently. I genuinely believe that he wants that lasting peace. I do think that's his objective. He knows what's needed to get there. And it's in all of our interest to ensure that we do whatever we can to bring about that outcome. (Time 0:10:28)
Trump's Second State Visit
Trump's second state visit is justified by the close alliance between the US and UK.
Starmer highlights the importance of the special relationship for national security and trade.
Transcript:
Keir Starmer
And we've been doing that for decades. And this is not a casual affair. It's not a casual issue. It is about the safety and security of our country. Can I ask you why Donald Trump is getting a second state visit? Well, because the king has invited him. On the prime minister's advice? Well, he's done something which no president has ever done before. Well, he's been impeached twice. He's got a criminal conviction.
Lewis Goodall
He tried to overturn an election. He slapped tariffs on us. He's trying to annex Canada. I mean, I can see what's in it for Donald Trump. What's in it for us? They're our closest ally.
Keir Starmer
Our defence and security and intelligence is bound up one with the other. We have enormous amounts, billions and billions of pounds worth of trade between our two countries. We fought wars together. We faced challenges together.
Lewis Goodall
No elected politician has ever been offered a second state visit.
Keir Starmer
No two countries work as closely as our two countries. The special relationship isn't just a phrase that's sort of useful in history books and biographies. It is the lived experience of how we keep our country safe. (Time 0:12:05)
Conscription Concerns
A father asks about the likelihood of his son being conscripted into the army.
Starmer dismisses conscription talks, focusing on security guarantees and peace.
Transcript:
Lewis Goodall
We did a live show in Edinburgh on Tuesday night. I was really struck by the question. That was you disappointed you couldn't come out. And I'm sure next time you'll come, honestly, we'll invite you. Look, we did a live show, had a question from Mark, a father of a 15-year boy. He said, my son celebrated his 15th birthday two days ago. In three years' time, what is the likelihood of his 18th birthday present being conscripted into the British Army to fight on the battlefield against Russia or someone else? If you were on stage with us that night, what would you have said?
Keir Starmer
Nobody's talking about conscription. I don't think that's ever crossed my lips. So what I'm talking about is making sure that as European countries, we play our full part in the European element of any security guarantees if there's a deal. That has to be supported with the US as a backstop, something I've been discussing with President Trump. We're not talking about conscription. We're talking about the best use of our capabilities, which, a manifold, by the way. Do you want to say that why people are worried? Well, what I want to do is to ensure that we keep the peace, that we are not drawn into conflict. But in order to keep the peace, you have to have a strong security guarantee. You do not keep the peace with no guarantee. That is exactly what happened. There was a deal in place. It was called Minsk, and it's been breached. So making the same mistake again doesn't seem to me to make sense. So, and President Zelensky is very alive to this, which is, we tried that one, which is an agreement without a guarantee, and it didn't work. And we've now had three years of war, which has impacted people in this country, through the cost of living, through energy prices, and so much more. If you want peace, you have to prepare for peace. And in this case, that means being forward-leaning on security guarantees. Exactly what the guarantee looks like, the layering of it, the technical operation of it, is obviously subject to a lot of discussion, but nobody's talking about conscription. (Time 0:14:00)
