A growing rebellion of MPs is demanding that the UK government lift the veil of secrecy over a controversial new trade deal with the US, amid fears that the agreement will force the NHS to pay billions more for life-saving medicines to satisfy "America First" pricing.

The deal, negotiated with the Donald Trump administration, promises "zero tariffs" on British exports but comes with a stinging caveat: the NHS must pay up to 25% more for innovative US drugs. Critics, including the Liberal Democrats, have branded it a "Trump shakedown," warning that the cost of this trade alignment will be measured in lives, not just pounds.

The £3 Billion Price Tag

Health experts estimate the deal could add £3 billion annually to the NHS drug bill by 2035. This money, they warn, will have to come from somewhere—likely cuts to frontline services or staff. A chilling report cited by the World Socialist Web Site suggests that without additional funding, the diversion of resources could indirectly lead to 15,000 excess deaths a year.

John McDonnell, leading a cross-party group of MPs, is calling for the immediate publication of the government’s impact assessment. "We are flying blind into a storm," he said. "Ministers are hiding the true cost because they know the public will not accept selling off the NHS by the back door."

• The Secrecy: The Department for Business and Trade has refused to release the full text of the "side letters" regarding pharmaceutical pricing, citing commercial sensitivity.
• The Impact: The deal effectively imports US drug pricing models into the UK, dismantling the price controls that have kept NHS medicines affordable for decades.

"Year on Year Burden"

Even the government has been forced to admit, in leaked memos, that the financial burden will "grow year on year." The tradeoff—tariff-free access for British cars and whisky—is being pitted against the sanctity of the NHS budget.

As the debate moves to the House of Commons, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting faces a grilling. Is this a "landmark deal" for innovation, as he claims, or is it the moment the NHS lost its sovereignty to Big Pharma? The pressure is mounting to show the receipts before the bill comes due.