The NHS Smackdown: Mackey vs Streeting in the Battle of Who Cares Less

Two heavyweight egos enter the ring, gloves off and buzzwords flying... but while they bob, weave and waffle, it’s cancer patients and the chronically sick getting floored.

Right. I’m not going pretend this isn’t what it very obviously is… a pre-fight press conference between two political pugilists who’ve just discovered the other doesn’t intend to lie down like a wet flannel. Sir Jim Mackey, the “interim” NHS boss… which, let’s be honest, is civil service code for “we couldn’t find anyone daft enough to take the job permanently”; has come out swinging, insisting he “won’t roll over” for Wes Streeting. Which is the bureaucratic equivalent of bouncing on your heels, punching the air and shouting, “Come on then!”