A row has broken out after Sir Rod Stewart waded into British politics yesterday and offered to pay for hospital scans live on TV.
Many were quick to praise the 78 year-old for his generosity and call him a ‘lifesaver’, while critics branded him a hypocrite due to his tax-dodging past.
The rock and pop icon made a surprise call to a Sky News debate on the NHS crisis during which he condemned the ‘heartbreaking’ state of the health service.
He offered to personally pay for 10 or 20 hospital scans for NHS patients after the TV news channel had earlier heard from those experiencing long waits for treatment.
Social media users pointed out the ‘Maggie May’ singer left the UK for Los Angeles in 1975 to avoid the 83 per cent tax on top earners – meaning he didn’t pay tax here for nearly four decades.
Sir Rod Stewart made a surprise call to a Sky News debate on the NHS crisis during which he condemned the ‘heartbreaking’ state of the health service
The 78-year-old claimed it was a ‘bad time’ for Great Britain and said it was ‘ridiculous’ that NHS patients are ‘dying because they can’t get scans’
Social media users were quick to point out Sir Rod moved away from the UK to avoid paying tax
Sir Rod revealed he was prompted to call in to the programme after attending a private clinic himself yesterday that was ’empty’.
‘This is ridiculous, I would like to pay for 10 or 20 scans – I don’t know how we’re going to work this out – and hopefully some other people will follow,’ he said.
‘Because it seems ridiculous that this particular scanning clinic was empty and there are people dying because they can’t get scans.
‘I don’t need the publicity, I just want to do some good things and this, I think is a good thing. And if other people follow me, I would love it.’
Sir Rod suggested the current crisis in the NHS had persuaded him to change his political support.
Sir Rod was also widely praised for his generous offer to pay for hospital scans
Asked about recent strikes by NHS workers over a pay dispute, Sir Rod said: ‘I personally have been a Tory for a long time but I think this Government should stand down now and give the Labour Party a go at it.
‘Because this is heartbreaking for the nurses, it really is heartbreaking. In all my years of living in this country, I’ve never seen it so bad. Go on the nurses, I’m on your side!’
He added: ‘This is a bad time for us in Great Britain, it really is – change the bloody government!’
The rock legend said he called in to the Sky News programme as he often has the TV playing in the background while he works on his model railway.
Sir Rod said he was ‘so proud to be British’ and ‘can’t stand it being in this way’.
The NHS has been under increasing pressure in recent months, with the crisis in the health services promoting Sir Rod to change his political support
The singer previously hinted at his political leanings on the morning after the 2019 general election when he posted on Twitter: ‘Well done Boris.’
Sir Rod (pictured at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in June) said it was time to ‘change the bloody government’
The rock legend called for the NHS to be ‘rebuilt’, saying he ‘can’t stand’ to see the country ‘in this way’
Sir Rod, who has previously battled prostate cancer, told the programme he has private healthcare because he has ‘a few shillings’.
He called for the NHS to be ‘rebuilt’ with ‘billions and billions’ of pounds amid the current pressures on hospitals, adding: ‘That’s the only way we’re going to get round it.’
Responding to Sir Rod’s comments this afternoon, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: ‘I agree with Sir Rod Stewart.’
The singer has been active in supporting refugees from Ukraine over the past year, including putting up a family of seven and promising to pay their rent in October.
At a gig in November, he wore the colours of the Ukrainian flag while belting out his anti-war hit ‘Rhythm of My Heart’ while President Volodymyr Zelensky was projected behind him.
Sir Rod, who has enjoyed six number one hits in the UK charts, had previously hinted at his political leanings on the morning after the 2019 general election when he posted on Twitter: ‘Well done Boris.’
His tweet prompted a backlash from some fans of Celtic, the Glasgow football club that Sir Rod has been a long-time supporter of.
Prior to the 2019 election, Sir Rod had predicted that Boris Johnson would ‘sort it out’ amid the ‘muddle’ over Brexit, although he revealed he was ‘still a Remainer’.
