Watch my question calling for the Government to reverse its tax hike on healthcare providers

Today, I spoke out against the government's indefensible policy of increasing National Insurance contributions (NICs) on GPs, hospices, social care providers, and voluntary sector organisations.

The empty government benches were a clear sign that even Labour MPs couldn’t defend this unfair decision, and sadly, felt they couldn't stand up for the vital work of their own hospices and charities.

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have called on the government to exempt social care providers and GPs from the employer's National Insurance tax rise. While the Chancellor will compensate the NHS and other public sector employers for the cost of the tax increase, GPs and most care providers - being private - won’t benefit from this help. This will only place greater pressures on our already struggling health and care services.

I fully support all of the Lords' amendments on this. This is a policy that must be challenged.