Theresa May avoids challenging Donald Trump on NHS just a day after Twitter outburst

Theresa May has failed to challenge Donald Trump on his claim the NHS was “broke and not working” - just a day after he made it.



The president made his outburst on Twitter after apparently watching a report about a pro-NHS march on right-wing cable channel Fox News.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt led the condemnation of President Trump, while the Prime Minister's spokesman said Mrs May was "proud of having an NHS that is free at the point of delivery" - unlike in America.

But Downing Street has confirmed that the issue was not raised when the pair spoke on the phone last night.

Instead, they discussed new US data laws to crack down on terror suspects in other countries.

The Prime Minister backed the proposals in the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act to allow US and UK authorities to access messages or emails of citizens suspected of terrorism, murder, people trafficking or child abuse.

The Act covers how the US can access data stored in another country, when it is needed to prosecute serious crime or to disrupt terrorism.

Number 10 said Mrs May and Mr Trump agreed the passage of the Act was “vital for our collective security.”

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister stressed the great importance of the legislation to the UK authorities in investigating criminal and terrorist activity in the UK.

“The Prime Minister and President Trump agreed the passage of the act through the US legislative system was vital for our collective security.”