The MP for Milton Keynes North has defended his vote stating that the local Labour party are playing 'political games'.
In a motion on Tuesday night, Ben Everitt MP and Iain Stewart MP voted against measures to rescue NHS dentistry.
Now, the Labour party have slammed the local Conservative MPs for their vote, stating that 'another 5 years will see NHS dentistry gone for good'.
The motion tabled by the Labour Party proposed more urgent dentistry appointments, incentives to recruit dentists and a reform of the dental contract. The party planned to fund the plan by abolishing the non-dom tax status.
It comes as it has been revealed that 96% of dentists across Milton Keynes are saying no to new patients. Figures show that only one dental surgery in Milton Keynes is accepting new adult patients out of the 26 dental surgeries who have provided information.
A recent report from the Nuffield Trust has warned that NHS dentistry “is at its most perilous point in its 75-year history,” and suggested that it may no longer be offered to all patients.
Emily Darlington, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Milton Keynes Central said "Patients in Milton Keynes are finding it impossible to see a dentist, with some having to resort to DIY dentistry. Yet when they had the chance to do something about it, MK's Tory MPs voted against it. It is time for change."
Chris Curtis, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Milton Keynes North said: “The Conservatives think that people should be happy with the poor service we have today. Another five years of the Conservatives will see NHS dentistry gone for good. Labour has a plan to rescue NHS dentistry from this crisis and get patients seen on time again. We will pay for it by abolishing the non-dom tax status, because people who live and work in Britain should pay their taxes here too.
Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North responded stating that the local Labour party are playing "more political games" and that there is set to be a dentistry plan coming soon.
He told MKFM: "This is just more political games from Labour. They know there's a plan for dentistry coming soon to fix the issues we're having since the pandemic. They're trying get in front of it to score political points with this half-baked, uncosted stunt while Conservatives are getting on with the hard work of getting our services back on track. I'd expect more of this kind of stunt as we get closer to the election."
