Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, deleted a video after claiming to schoolchildren that Reform UK would end free NHS treatment, stirring controversy and accusations of unlawful political campaigning in schools. The footage, recorded during a school visit, showed Rayner telling pupils that Reform UK intended to introduce insurance-style NHS charges, a direct misrepresentation of the party’s stated policy. This incident took place amid heightened political tensions surrounding the NHS in the Ashton-under-Lyne area following local elections.
Video Sparks Immediate Backlash
The video circulated widely on social media before Rayner removed it, but not before igniting accusations of misleading children and potentially violating education laws governing political neutrality in schools. Rayner claimed her premature son might not have survived under such an insurance system, calling the idea “really dangerous,” despite Reform UK’s clear position that NHS care would remain free at the point of use.
Reform UK Policy Misrepresented
Reform UK’s official stance focuses on maintaining free NHS services while incorporating private sector resources to reduce waiting times, not patient charges or insurance payments. Independent fact-checkers like Full Fact have debunked Labour’s repeated claims that Reform seeks to scrap the NHS or impose mandatory payments, emphasising these as exaggerations beyond party policy.
Legal Concerns Raised Over Campaigning
Legal experts flagged potential breaches of Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996, which forbid political campaigning in maintained schools and require balanced perspectives when political issues arise. Commentator Adrian Hilton described the video as a clear violation due to its one-sided, anti-Reform messaging without presenting opposing views, further compounded by Rayner’s online use of the footage as campaign material.
Ongoing Fallout And Political Context
Despite deleting the video, copies still circulate and critics accuse Rayner of deliberately scaremongering schoolchildren. Her defenders argue the comments reflect genuine concerns about Reform’s future plans and politicians’ statements. The event arrives amid Labour’s push to defend Rayner’s Ashton-under-Lyne seat, focusing heavily on NHS fears following Reform’s strong local election showing.
