Facts

Johnson has repeatedly stated that the government will build 40 new hospitals. Numerous fact-checking organisations have demolished this claim. Under current plans, only six hospitals will be upgraded (not built from scratch) in the five years of a Tory government. As Full Fact noted: “the government has committed the money to upgrade six hospitals by 2025. Up to 38 other hospitals have received money to plan for building work between 2025 and 2030, but not to actually begin any work.”   

Verdict

Boris Johnson would have been within his right to say that the government has set aside funds to plan for new hospitals after 2025 (and another election), but when he told the 6.7 million TV viewers that “we are building 40 new hospitals” he was telling a lie.