JEREMY Corbyn has revealed documents that he claims shows the NHS is currently on the table in the Conservative's Brexit trade deal talks.
During a press conference in Westminster on Wednesday, the Labour leader held up the papers, claiming it relates to drug pricing and several other issues.
He also highlighted that it revealed the US was demanding access to the NHS and shows talks were at a "very advanced stage".
The Labour leader also said the 451 pages covered six rounds of negotiations - taking place in Washington and London - starting in July 2017 to "just a few months ago".
Corbyn first referred to the report during the ITV leader's debate, however at that time he only had a censored copy.
Jeremy Corbyn asks Johnson to explain why newly revealed documents show the US is demanding the NHS is 'on the table'. #GE2019pic.twitter.com/AAD8ifnmrF
— Steph/en Paton ❄️ (@stephenpaton134) November 27, 2019
Now he claims that Labour have access to the full text.
He said: "These documents confirm the US is demanding the NHS is on the table in trade talks."
"These uncensored documents leave Boris Johnson’s denials in absolute tatters".
The Prime Minister "tried to cover it up… but today it’s been exposed."
On medicine pricing, he said the documents showed discussions had already been concluded between the two sides on lengthening patents.
"Longer patents can only mean one thing - more expensive drugs. Lives will be put at risk as a result of this," he said.
He pointed to the example to the drug Humira - used to treat Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis - which costs the NHS £1,409 a packet while in the US the price was £8,115.
Corbyn said that according to the readout of the second meeting, UK officials noted the "patent issues" around "NHS access to generic drugs will be a key consideration" in talks.
By the fourth meeting, he said, the officials on the two sides were ready to "exchange text" and to "really take significant further steps" - suggesting the negotiations were at a "very advanced stage".
Campaigners have welcomed the leak and say the papers show that Boris Johnson’s government is dancing to the tune of US multinationals.
One of the biggest changes Johnson made to Theresa May’s “Chequers proposal” was to remove the long-term linking of British and European requirements, threatening food and other standards under a US trade deal.
Global Justice Now says its analysis of the papers shows the US pushing lower food standards on a post-Brexit Britain, including allowing imports of chlorine-washed chickens, less nutritional labelling on foods, and less protection for regional food like stilton cheese.
It said the US had also banned any mention of climate change in a US-UK trade deal and officials had threatened UK civil servants that they would undermine US trade talks if they supported certain EU positions in international forums.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson has put the NHS up for sale
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) November 27, 2019
Here is the evidence. pic.twitter.com/iOqBFdfIQH
Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, said: “No wonder the government didn’t want us to see these papers: they clearly show the British negotiators being bullied by Trump’s administration, and Boris Johnson dancing to the tune of US big business.
“Boris Johnson’s position on Brexit is clearly dictated by what’s best for US corporations, even when he knows this will be worse for the British economy and British welfare.
“The US is demanding damaging changes to the British economy which threaten our public services like the NHS, our food standards and farmer livelihoods, our access to new cancer medicines, and our ability to tackle climate change.
“US officials are damning about parliamentary scrutiny over safety standards and are even trying to dictate what positions Britain can take in international fora. Both sides are committed to as much secrecy as possible in these trade talks.
“These papers make a mockery of Boris Johnson’s manifesto pledge to protect British public services and standards – that would be absolutely impossible under the type of trade deal being discussed here.
“We will continue to force these discussions into the light, so people know what they’re voting for 12 December.”
Boris Johnson denied that the NHS was on the table during the debate with Corbyn on ITV.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel