Wes Streeting has thrown down a gauntlet as he brands Nigel Farage a “con artist” over the NHS.

The Health Secretary said the NHS had been founded on the promise that “when you fall ill, you never have to worry about the bill,” adding that he is “here today to defend that promise”.

The Health Secretary said: “We stand on the shoulders of giants. What Bevan and Attlee did in the aftermath of war was an act of courage as well as conviction.”

“Not just for the NHS or even for the survival of this Government, but for everything we believe in. It is a battle of progressives against reactionaries, patriotism versus nationalism, hope not hate.

“Our country is being confronted with choices about who we are and what we stand for. And nowhere do those choices come together more starkly than our National Health Service.

“The founding principles of the NHS are now contested for the first time in generations. Farage wants to replace the NHS with an insurance system.

“His vision for healthcare is a system that checks your pocket before your pulse and asks for your credit card before your care.

“Well, it might be alright for Mr Moneybags, we know he can afford it, but what about those who can’t?

“We should know by now that man is a con artist, posing as a voice for people while working for the interests of the powerful.”

“And be in no doubt, it’s not Reform he’s offering its retreat.

“He says we can’t afford in this century the NHS we could afford in the last. Well, if that’s the fight Farage wants: bring it on.”

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Mr Streeting was not the only politician to have a dig at the Reform UK leader.

In Sir Keir Starmer’s speech, the Prime Minister said: “When was the last time that you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain’s future?”

“He can’t. He doesn’t like Britain. He doesn’t believe in Britain.

“He wants you to doubt it as much as he does. So he resorts to grievance.”

The Prime Minister branded Mr Farage as the “enemy of renewal” in one of many attacks on Reform UK.

Sir Keir said: “Controlling migration is a reasonable goal. But if you throw bricks and smash up private property, that is not legitimate, that is thuggery.

“Free speech is a British value and we have guarded it for centuries. But if you incite racist violence and hatred, that is not expressing concern; that is criminal.

“And this party, this great party, is proud of our flags, but if they’re painted alongside graffiti telling a Chinese takeaway owner to go home, that’s not pride, that’s racism.”

Mr Streeting also praised Angela Rayner, calling for her to return to the Government.

He told the Labour Conference: “We need her back,” and was met with a huge applause.

The Health Secretary stated: “There’s someone else who’s made a real difference too, who understands the struggle care workers face, because she was one.

“She brought that experience to the cabinet table as the care worker who became our country’s Deputy Prime Minister. Angela Rayner, this achievement is yours.”

Ms Rayner resigned from her role as Housing Secretary and Deputy PM after admitting she did not pay enough stamp duty to purchase her £800,000 seaside flat.