Trump rows back on NHS trade remarks

Donald Trump has rowed back on his remarks that the NHS should form part of a future trade deal between the UK and US.

The comment, made during his state visit to the UK, prompted a backlash from Conservative leadership candidates, Labour and trade unions.

But on Wednesday, the US president told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I don't see it being on the table."

He added that the NHS was something he would "not consider part of trade".

Current rules allow foreign firms to bid for NHS contracts and a subsidiary of the US company United Health is among private groups which have already successfully done so.

Some, though, fear the health service is vulnerable to creeping privatisation or a weakening of the tight control the NHS currently keeps on drug prices if US firms get greater access.