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Jess Phillips: I got better NHS treatment because of my Gaza stance

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To the new Labour government, where the spotlight is on Jess Phillips and her rather extraordinary revelation. It transpires that in a recent ‘in conversation’ event, Phillips rather overshared – admitting to skipping a choc-a-bloc NHS queue because of, er, how she voted on a Gaza ceasefire. When that became a secret hack to better healthcare, Mr S can’t quite recall…

The MP for Birmingham Yardley, recounting her special treatment at London’s Kiln Theatre, told an enraptured audience of a distressing incident in which she had trouble breathing. Rushed to hospital, Phillips described scenes of chaos in the emergency department, claiming: ‘I have genuinely seen better facilities, health facilities, in war zones, in developing countries around the world.’ Crikey. Possibly a matter for the area’s MP, perhaps?

The part-time podcaster finally got to the front of the queue – but only for two reasons unique to her, she boasted. ‘I got through because of who I am’, Phillips modestly revealed. ‘Also the doctor who saw me was Palestinian, as it turns out. Almost all the doctors in Birmingham seemed to be.’ The very fact of her voting in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza while in opposition – a move that meant she had to resign from the front bench – was the reason she received preferential treatment, Phillips believes. Er, right. Not like there’s already any issue with the public’s perception of politicians, eh? Never mind two-tier policing — it looks like Labour’s got a two-tier healthcare problem too…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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