‘What are you going to do about our broken NHS?’: Rottweiler Jeremy Paxman returns to political fray for the first time after revealing Parkinson’s battle to grill Wes Streeting over healthcare plans

He once struck fear in the hearts of politicians with his astute – and ruthless – interview techniques.

But Jeremy Paxman, who asked then Home Secretary Michael Howard the same question 12 times during an appearance on Newsnight, cut a slightly softer figure during his return to broadcast yesterday.

The former BBC presenter, who left the company three years ago after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, now has a podcast, Movers and Shakers, in which celebrities discuss the challenges of living with the degenerative condition.

While sipping a pint of lager and munching a Scotch egg, Paxman questioned the shadow health and social care secretary in a London pub – a world away from the intense studios where he spent his career questioning ministers and MPs.

But despite his casual checked shirt and unkempt mop of white hair, the star journalist quickly proved he had lost none of his famous bite, winning over Mr Streeting with his plans for the NHS.

Paxman drank a pint of lager and ate a Scotch egg during the interview in a London pub, a world away from his

Mr Streeting pledged to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease by making an additional 62,000 NHS neurology appointments every year

When the politician declared that the health care system was “broken,” Paxman, 74, interrupted and demanded, “What are you going to do about it?”

Mr Streeting is the first politician to appear on the podcast, which has been running since last year.

He used the interview to promise to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease by making 62,000 NHS neurology appointments a year if his party wins the July 4 general election.

There are currently 234,119 patients in England on the waiting list for neurological services and almost half are already waiting longer than the NHS target of 18 weeks as of the end of April.

It means many of their illnesses go undiagnosed and may have worsened during that wait.

Speaking on the podcast, which will be released on Saturday, Mr Streeting recalled how he had a “terrifying experience” when he was interviewed by Paxman on Newsnight, when he was president of the National Union of Students.

Paxman now has a podcast called Movers and Shakers, where celebrities discuss the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease

Other presenters include former BBC journalists Rory Cellan-Jones, Mark Mardell and Gillian Lacey-Solymar, plus Princess Diana’s divorce lawyer, Sir Nick Mostyn, and co-writer of the Vicar of Dibley, Paul Mayhew-Archer.

He added: ‘I didn’t think it would happen again. I thought I had escaped when you left Newsnight, but here I am being subjected to the Paxo treatment.’

Other presenters on the podcast, all of whom have Parkinson’s disease, include several of Paxman’s former colleagues: Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC News technology correspondent, Mark Mardell, former BBC Europe and North America editor, and correspondent Gillian Lacey-Solymar. Also in the line-up are the late Princess Diana’s divorce lawyer, Sir Nick Mostyn, and co-writer of the Vicar of Dibley, Paul Mayhew-Archer.

Mr Streeting said: ‘Too many Parkinson’s patients are being left on the slow road thanks to fourteen years of Tory chaos, facing unacceptable wait times before being diagnosed and treated.

“Jeremy, Gillian, Paul, Rory, Nicholas and Mark all know how important it is to get a timely diagnosis to get the treatment and care patients need.

‘NHS Parkinson’s services are in urgent need of change and only Labor has a plan to deliver this.

‘We will increase the number of neurological appointments by 62,000 every year and tackle the 18-week backlog to get the NHS back on its feet.’

The podcast hosts marked World Parkinson’s Day earlier this year by presenting their ‘Parky Charter’, featuring tens of thousands of names, to Downing Street.

It calls for rapid access to specialists for people with Parkinson’s under the NHS, the introduction of a Parkinson’s UK pamphlet for greater awareness and support, the implementation of a Parkinson’s Passport that automatically entitles you to specific benefits, improved comprehensive care, including regular consultations with a Parkinson’s nurse, and more government funding for research into a cure for the disease.

The group said: ‘The Movers and Shakers are pleased that Wes Streeting has recognized the importance of our Parky charter and pledged an additional 62,000 neurological appointment.

‘We’re delighted that he sees conditions like Parkinson’s at the heart of Labour’s vision for the NHS.

‘Should Labor form the next government, we will be watching closely to make sure this actually happens, and we will push hard to get the rest of the Charter implemented.’

Paxman, who left his role at the BBC after revealing his diagnosis in May 2021, has previously said: ‘Parkinson’s disease may not kill you, but it will make you wish you hadn’t been born.

“There’s nothing in it for the pharmaceutical companies, it just makes them more money.”

Movers and Shakers started in February 2023 and is described as ‘fun’ by the former Newsnight and University Challenge presenter.