Rishi Sunak will no longer be going ahead with his pledge to charge people for missed GP appointments, the prime minister’s spokesperson has said.

The spokesperson said “now is not the time to take this policy forward”.

During the summer leadership contest, Mr Sunak pledged to introduce a £10 fine for patients who miss appointments.

Mr Sunak wants to deliver a stronger NHS and the “sentiment remains people should not be missing appointments”, according to the PM’s spokesperson.

They added: “We have listened to GPs and NHS leaders and agreed now is not time to take this policy forward.”