Row breaks out over Rod Stewart's taxes after he waded into NHS backlog ... trends now
Sir Rod Stewart has been hailed as a 'real legend' after offering to pay for hospital scans live on TV, but critics have highlighted his tax-dodging past.
The rock and pop icon made a surprise call to a Sky News debate on the NHS crisis during which he condemned the 'heartbreaking' state of the health service.
The 78 year-old offered to personally pay for 10 or 20 hospital scans for NHS patients after the TV news channel had earlier heard from those experiencing long waits for treatment.
Though social media users were quick to point out that the Maggie May singer left the UK for Los Angeles in 1975 to avoid the 83 per cent tax on top earners.
Sir Rod Stewart made a surprise call to a Sky News debate on the NHS crisis during which he condemned the 'heartbreaking' state of the health service
The 78-year-old claimed it was a 'bad time' for Great Britain and said it was 'ridiculous' that NHS patients are 'dying because they can't get scans'
Social media users were quick to point out Sir Rod moved away from the UK to avoid paying tax
Sir Rod revealed he was prompted to call in to the programme after attending a private clinic himself yesterday that was 'empty'.
'This is ridiculous, I would like to pay for 10 or 20 scans - I don't know how we're going to work this out - and hopefully some other people will follow,' the 'Maggie May' singer said.
'Because it seems ridiculous that this particular scanning clinic was empty and there are people dying because they can't get scans.
'I don't need the publicity, I just want to do some good things and this, I think is a good thing. And if other people follow me, I would love it.'
Sir Rod suggested the current crisis in the NHS had persuaded him to change his political support.
