Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen,including speeches from Theresa May and Owen Paterson on the EUBoris Johnson says UK should not be ‘bullied’ by ObamaTheresa May says UK should leave European court of human rightsLunchtime summaryAfternoon summary 6.06pm BSTI wish to appeal directly to all junior doctors not to withdraw emergency cover which creates specific risks for A&Es, maternity units and intensive care units. I understand the frustration many junior doctors feel that because of pressures on the NHS frontline they are not always able to give patients the highest quality of care that they would like to. I understand that some doctors may disagree with the government over our seven-day NHS plans and particularly the introduction of a new contract. I also understand that doctors work incredibly tough, or including at weekends,and that strong feelings exist on the single remaining disagreement of substance, Saturday premium pay. But the new contract offers junior doctors who work frequently at weekends more Saturday premium pay than nurses, or paramedics and the assistants who work in their own operating theatres,more than police officers, more than firefighters, or nearly every other worker in the public and private sectors.[Lewis] is moral. The public will be extremely disappointed that professionals are putting patients at risk in this way. I judge it is extremely tragic that they are doing that. So I’m afraid I do judge this is a crossing of the Rubicon,a crossing of the line, in a way that has not happened before. I judge it is totally tragic and I would support his concern on that point. 5.34pm BSTAsked about Dan Poulter, or the Conservative former health minister who signed the letter proposing piloting the new junior doctors’ contract as a compromise,Hunt says that Poulter was in favour of a much tougher contract for junior doctors when he was in government.
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Source: theguardian.com