TAKING THE BISCUIT
Junk food ads will be BANNED on TV before 9pm under government drive to stop kids eating badly
The PM has also warned the NHS must “reform or die” in a major speech.
JUNK food adverts will be banned from TV before 9pm, Wes Streeting is set to confirm today.
The Health Secretary will also stop unhealthy products like biscuits and burgers being promoted on websites aimed at kids.
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The restrictions are expected to kick in next year and come as part of government plans to curb childhood obesity.
Labour promised to implement the measures in their election manifesto after first being announced by the Tories.
Boris Johnson pledged the 9pm watershed in 2021 - when he blamed his Covid bout on being too fat - but the implementation has been continuously delayed.
Under those plans any food high in sugar, salt and fat would be stung, including chocolate, burgers, cakes, soft drinks, sweets, biscuits and chips.
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Mr Streeting is expected to set out the launch date and wider details in a written statement to parliament today.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “One in three children leave school overweight or obese, holding them back at the start of their young lives.
"As confirmed in the King’s Speech, this government will ban junk food adverts targeted at children, as part of our plans to give every child a healthy, happy start to life.
"Prevention is better than cure. Shifting our focus from treatment to prevention could stop an additional 20,000 children from growing up obese and ease pressure on the NHS.";
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It comes on the same day Sir Keir Starmer will warn the NHS must “reform or die” in a major speech.
The PM warns the health service is on life support and must “reform or die” — as taxpayers cannot afford to pump in any more extra cash.
He will say that endlessly splurging the public’s money will not fix crippling waiting lists or an increasingly sick population.
Instead, he urged harnessing artificial intelligence, slashing red tape and moving care from hospitals to the community.
The PM will say: “Only fundamental reform and a long-term plan can turn around the NHS and build a healthy society.
Life-saving NHS health checks to spot killer diseases will be carried out at work
“The challenge is clear; the change could amount to the biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth.
“We know working people can’t afford to pay more, so it’s reform or die.”
A report out today from surgeon Lord Ara Darzi warns the NHS is in critical condition after a decade of “unforgivable” damage.
It said in the best case scenario, the health service will take four years beyond the next election to return to peak performance standards.
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