Question Time nurse brands Tory MP 'disgraceful' for 'twisting words' in post on X

A Tory MP has been branded "disgraceful" by a nurse who says he "twisted" her words for his own agenda.

MP for Workington, Mark Jenkinson, edited a clip from BBC Question Time showing nurse Holly Turner slamming the government for lack of investment and support.

He snipped her speech and suggested she was saying the NHS was worse off under a Labour government 15 years ago than it is now.

Turner, who has worked for the NHS for almost 20 years, told Yahoo News UK: "It is absolutely disgraceful how he twisted my words to fit his own narrative.

"There is a crisis in the NHS and working class people are being attacked for standing up for their rights.

"This desperate attempt to put the blame on someone else shows how low they will go. I haven't come across one person who believes what he is implying.

"That post shows just how desperate they are."

The mum-of-two had used an example of working 27 hour shifts 15 years ago, but said that work conditions were even worse now. However, Jenkinson clipped her speech before she reached her conclusion, then shared it with his 15,000 followers.

Turner said she and her nursing colleagues are striking "for pay, because we feel undervalued, and for patient safety".

She said minimal service levels are always in place ahead of a strike, so critical care is provided, but with its anti-strike legislation - meaning anyone striking if levels are not in place can be sacked - the government is "threatening to sack me if I strike".

The controversial legislation curtails the right of hundreds of thousands of public sector workers by imposing a legal duty of a minimum level of service on strike days.

Turner, who lives and works in Essex, said: "There already are levels in place, we put it in anyway, but we're threatened if levels are not met we will be sacked.

"But look at the millions already spent covering care while NHS staff strike. If they spent that money addressing the problem it could have been resolved by now, but they won't even listen."

Asked what she would say to Jenkinson directly, Turner told Yahoo News UK: "I would say 'how dare you twist my words and use my story, as a working class woman fighting for patient safety, fighting to save the NHS for future generations. How dare you twist my words to fit your narrative?'

"His desperation shows."

Read more:

Nurses' strike begins as union insists critical care exemptions are in place for 28-hour walkout (Sky News)

Doctors in England step up strike action over pay (Yahoo Life)

Doctor shares payslip to show stark reality of NHS pay (Independent)

Asked whether she thought a Labour government may be able to resolve the situation, Turner said: "The problem is they are not saying enough.

"They have said they will sit down in a room with us, which is a start, but it is not enough. They need to show some commitment to addressing this absolute crisis."

By Tuesday afternoon, Jenkinson's post had been fact-checked by X and a clarification added that his post "has been selectively cut to misrepresent the nurse's words".

It said: "While things were bad 15 years ago, she argues they are worse now."

Why are NHS staff striking?

Following months of industrial action, strikes are continuing across the NHS. Consultants walked out on the 19 and 20 September and junior doctors went on strike between 20 to 22 September. Both groups are also striking from 2-4 October. Hospital dental trainee members of the British Dental Association will go on strike on the same dates at 15 trusts in England.

Nurses, physiotherapists and many other NHS employees have taken industrial action this year, and nurses are expected to be balloted again in the new year as to whether to embark on a fresh round of strikes.

When strikes were first announced last year, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “For many of us, this is our first time striking and our emotions are really mixed. The NHS is in crisis, the nursing profession can’t take any more, our loved ones are already suffering.

“It is not unreasonable to demand better. This is not something that can wait. We are committed to our patients and always will be.”

Union members say they are striking to achieve full pay restoration to reverse the steep decline in pay faced since 2008/9, and to agree on a plan with the government to prevent future declines against the cost of living and inflation.

Watch:NHS strikes: Almost half of public blame government for industrial action by doctors, poll finds