He doesnt care: Rishi Sunak is failing nurses and NHS, say voters in Stoke

Rishi Sunak should pour money and staff into the crippled NHS, and reward striking nurses with better pay, Conservative 2019 voters from a red wall constituency have said.

Stoke-on-Trent residents in a focus group organised by More in Common for the Guardian described the health service as struggling, being in an absolute mess and on its backside, with all members able to describe just how difficult it is to get an appointment. On top of this, the locals expressed a huge amount of sympathy for striking health workers, who are worked to the bone.

Noting how difficult it has become, Jannette, 59, a hairdresser, said: I have a few friends who work as nurses and doctors, and theyre just worked to the bone. Thats why theyre all leaving. They dont get breaks, theyre doing extra shifts theyre not appreciated. More money should be put in that system.

But instead of blaming the Tories for failing to invest over the past 12 years, the group members criticised the prime minister for leaving the public alone to deal with spiralling inflation, strikes and failing public services.