How Priti Patel’s words could come back to haunt her

The home secretary’s decision not the scrap the surcharge for overseas NHS workers will be tough to explain and justify, writes Sean O’Grady, and could even prove to be her undoing

(AFP/Getty)

When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – that’s all”.

Although Humpty Dumpty is yet to chair a Cobra meeting or one of the daily coronavirus media conferences, his words do have a certain Alice in Wonderland resonance, at least so far as the Home Office is concerned.

Having said – or appeared to say – a few weeks ago that the NHS levy for overseas workers in the NHS would be reviewed, home secretary Priti Patel says that they will not be changed or waived (beyond a previously announced waiver for those having their visas extended because of the pandemic).