UK interested in joining USMCA

[EastAnglianLefty]

The chances of this happening are slim to none. The Tories like talking about trade deals, but in practice they aren't going to push through a very unpopular trade deal that would bankrupt half the UK's farmers and blow a massive hole in the NHS's budget in the run-up to an election.

[EastAnglianLefty]

US pharmaceutical companies aren't happy that the NHS uses its bargaining power to pay a very low price for drugs and want any trade deal to raise the price paid. Given that that is a substantial proportion of the NHS's spending, that would have knock-on consequences.

[EastAnglianLefty]

US pharmaceutical companies aren't happy that the NHS uses its bargaining power to pay a very low price for drugs and want any trade deal to raise the price paid. Given that that is a substantial proportion of the NHS's spending, that would have knock-on consequences.

That has literally never happened and I think a large part of why Labour is failing is that they are unable to grasp the NHS argument no longer works. Labour has insinuated roughly 600 times that this or that Tory bill would be the end of the NHS and would lead to it being sold off.

It's a boy who cried wolf argument that's not going to work or change anybody's mind anymore.

Reading comprehension is your friend. The NHS paying more for drugs does not equal the NHS being sold off; it would however raise NHS spending without improving patient outcomes.