Liz Truss called for NHS patients to be charged for GP visits, 2009 pamphlet shows

Liz Truss previously called for NHS patients to be charged to see their GP and for doctors to receive a 10% pay cut, a document dating back more than a decade has shown.

The Tory leadership candidate, who is facing off against former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to be the UK’s next Prime Minister , co-authored a pamphlet in 2009 entitled ‘Back to Black’ that proposed ways to cut government spending. The document, written while Labour was still in government, was written by Truss and six others when she was deputy director of The Reform think tank.

TalkTV’s The News Desk reported that a section of the pamphlet entitled ‘Introduce user charges for GPs’ read: “User charges should be introduced and there should be greater reliance upon other health professionals… for treating less serious ailments”. It later proposed: “Reduce the pay of doctors and NHS managers by 10%.”

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The paper co-authored by the now Foreign Secretary further called to “abolish universal child benefit”, saying that the benefit “should be targeted on families on low incomes”. It also suggested that some major military projects be scrapped, including the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

The news comes as Truss and Sunak continue their leadership campaigns to replace outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with both candidates putting forward their Premiership plans over the summer. The result is set to be announced on Monday 5 September by Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, after Tory members vote for their preferred candidate.

Truss’ campaign team told The News Desk: “Co-authoring a document does not mean that someone supports every proposal put forward. Liz is focused on her bold economic plan to boost growth, cut taxes and put money back into hardworking people’s pockets”.

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