Dozens of MPs oppose Streeting’s new power to say what NHS pays for drugs
Dozens of MPs from multiple parties are opposing Health Secretary Wes Streeting's new authority to override NHS drug funding recommendations made by NICE, the independent body that assesses cost-effectiveness. They argue the move undermines NICE's independence, may be illegal, and could benefit US pharmaceutical companies at the expense of NHS resources. Critics, including former health secretaries and health experts, warn the change could divert funds from essential services due to higher drug costs. The government defends the decision as a way to improve access to innovative treatments and support UK drug exports under a deal with the US.
- ●Thirty-one MPs from Labour, Green, Lib Dem, SNP, Plaid Cymru, and Independent parties have backed a parliamentary 'prayer' opposing Streeting's power to override NICE appraisals.
- ●The new power was granted via a statutory instrument linked to a UK-US drug-pricing deal under the Trump administration.
- ●Former health secretary Andrew Lansley has filed a 'motion of regret' in the House of Lords, arguing the change conflicts with the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
- ●Health experts and economists warn increased drug spending could force cuts to other cost-effective NHS services.
- ●The government and ABPI maintain that NICE's independence remains intact and that the secretary of state only sets cost-effectiveness parameters.
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MPs fear the change undermines the key role Nice has played since its creation in 1999 as the arbiter of what medicines constitute value for money for the NHS to buy. Photograph: James Manning/PAView image in fullscreenMPs fear the change undermines the key role Nice has played since its creation in 1999 as the arbiter of what medicines constitute value for money for the NHS to buy. Photograph: James Manning/PAWes StreetingDozens of MPs oppose Streeting’s new power to say what NHS pays for drugsHealth secretary’s ‘power grab’ to override Nice comes amid growing concern move may be illegal and benefit big pharmaDenis CampbellSun 26 Apr 2026 03.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 26 Apr 2026 03.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDozens of MPs are opposing Wes Streeting’s decision to award himself power to dictate what the NHS pays for drugs amid growing concern the move may be illegal.Thirty-one MPs have signed a House of Commons motion voicing their disapproval of the health secretary being handed the power to override the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (Nice) judgment on how much the NHS should spend on individual medicines.They fear that the change is a “power grab” that undermines the role Nice has played since its creation in 1999 as the arbiter of which medicines constitute value for money for the NHS to buy – and thus which patients can receive – in England and Wales. Nice is widely viewed internationally as a model of how to protect against drug companies charging excessive prices.Labour, Green, Liberal Democrat, Independent, Scottish Nationalist and Plaid Cymru MPs have backed a “prayer”, tabled by the Labour ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell. MPs can use a “prayer” as a way of showing they disagree with a statutory instrument – secondary legislation or regulations, which they do not vote on – the government is using to implement a change of policy it has decided on.A statutory instrument recently gave Streeting the power to “direct Nice as to the applicable cost-effectiveness threshold to apply to a health technology undergoing appraisal” as part of the government’s drug-pricing deal with Donald Trump’s administration.McDonnell said: “One of the express purposes of establishing Nice was to insulate the NHS from the powerful and well-resourced lobbying of the pharmaceutical industry.“The changes the government are making to Nice as a result of the US pharmaceutical deal undermine the independence of Nice giving US big pharma the potential of immense influence over our drugs policies.UK drug exports to US spared tariffs under deal critics say will cost NHS billionsRead more“This risks precious NHS resources being diverted away from life-saving practices and handed to drug companies instead, to the harm of patients.”Helen Morgan, the Lib Dem health spokesperson, said Streeting had been given the power to direct Nice because Keir Starmer, the prime minister, had caved in to “the bully in the White House”.She said: “This change to Nice rules is clearly coming at the behest of Trump, not because the government thinks it will help patients.”Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports to the US avoid tariffs, and giving patients access to potentially life-extending drugs that would otherwise be denied.The MPs have been joined in their concern by an unlikely ally: Andrew Lansley, the Conservative ex-health secretary, who is now a peer. He has tabled a “motion of regret” in the House of…
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