Boris Johnson drops NHS fee for migrant healthcare workers in humiliating U-turn 24 hours after defending policy

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. ”We’ll wait until we get there but I do think there is going to have to be a rebalancing of where we’re at and how we value people.” Just 24 hours before his climbdown, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that imposing the immigration health surcharge on foreign-born NHS workers was “the right way forward”. “I think this is monstrous that people who come from overseas to help and risk their lives in really difficult circumstances aren’t treated properly.” Meanwhile, Downing Street revealed that some NHS trusts are covering the cost of the charge for staff – meaning the health service was effectively paying to fund itself. But the money raised does go into the NHS.” After a day of disquiet in Tory ranks, a 10 Downing Street spokesman announced the surprise U-turn, saying: “The PM has asked the Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care to remove NHS and care workers from the NHS surcharge as soon as possible. Syrian refugee and NHS hospital cleaner Hassan Akkad, who went viral on social media with a video plea to the PM for fairer treatment for support staff, sent a message of thanks to members of the public, campaigners, trade unions and journalists who forced the change of heart, telling them: “Britain is great because of you.” Akkad, who calculated he would have to work for 10 days to pay off his personal fee, said: “Today’s message is to you, to the British public.