Boris Johnson criticised for editing out a broken promise from Facebook video He has been accused of editing footage of a speech to remove two words that amounted to a failed promise

Boris Johnson has been accused of ‘misleading the public’ after claims he doctored footage of his first speech as Prime Minister to omit any reference to a ‘broken promise’.

The ‘Vision for Britain’ speech, delivered on the steps of Number 10, saw the Prime Minister pledge a new NHS funding package, widely seen as a nod to plans for an Autumn general election.

But he has been accused of editing footage of the speech to remove two words that amounted to a promise he failed to fulfil.

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In a clip posted to his official Facebook page on Friday, Mr Johnson says: “My job is to make sure you don’t have to wait three weeks to see your GP.

“And we start work… with 20 new hospital upgrades and ensuring that the money for the NHS really does get to the frontline.”

Two words changed meaning

But in the original speech, made on 24 July, he said: “And we start work this week…”.

In fact, he announced his £1.8bn funding pledge for the NHS three weeks later, on 4 August, and it emerged much of it was money already saved by hospitals.

Labour shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth criticised Mr Johnson for “trying to take the British people for fools”.

Downing Street have declined to comment.

New money or old

The Prime Minister announced the £1.8 billion cash injection including £850 million for funding vital upgrades to 20 hospitals, each of which have been allocated funds for specific infrastructure projects.

The Labour Party and a number of high profile think tanks said much of the money was coming from savings hospitals had previously been forced to make by the Government rather than being “new money”.

Read more: NHS bosses urge Boris Johnson to end escalating crisis in social care

Mr Ashworth said: “Boris Johnson has misled the public and our NHS staff. You cannot trust a word he says and his claims are unravelling.”

Sally Gainsbury, senior policy analyst, at the Nuffield Trust thinktank said: “News that £1bn will now be available this year is a welcome reprieve, but it’s the equivalent of giving someone cash then banning them from spending it, only to expect cheers of jubilation when you later decide they can spend it after all,”

Downing Street has insisted the money was new, with £850m going to 20 hospital upgrades and £1bn for capital spending.