Support a new Royal Berkshire Hospital after Labour delay project for over a decade

The Labour government have announced that work to replace the Royal Berkshire Hospital will not begin for at least a decade and could be as late as 2039.

Labour made a new hospital a top priority in their election campaign locally. During a debate on BBC Radio Berkshire, the now Labour MP for Earley & Woodley Yuan Yang criticised Conservatives for not moving fast enough and promised that under a Labour Government replacement of the RBH would begin in this parliament.

We now know that her party never had any intention to deliver on this pledge.

Labour’s plan was always to get themselves elected and then say there was not enough money to proceed with the RBH and other hospitals.

When Labour came to power, they found money to hand out massive pay increases to train drivers and others costing over £9 billion. We now know that this was funded, in part, from money earmarked for ‘capital expenditure’ that was intended to pay for building works or new equipment (courtesy: the i Paper 6th March 2025).

A brand-new purpose built RBH is desperately needed. By the time this Government plans to start rebuilding, parts of the current hospital will be almost two centuries old. A purpose-built hospital, fit for now and into the future, would be able to provide care for more patients. It would also enable better access and parking.

Local Conservatives support a new hospital. It would mean more space and the ability to deploy the best equipment and new technologies. We will continue to lobby for bringing forward this project.

Let us know what you think.