Speaking at the NHS Providers annual conference, Streeting said: ‘It's time for the BMA to get real, but one way or another, we're not going to be held to ransom. We are going to plough on regardless.

‘I think it's become increasingly clear that the BMA is no longer a professional voice for doctors. They are increasingly behaving in cartel-like behaviour, and they threaten not just the recovery of the NHS under this government, they threaten the future of the NHS full stop, and I think that is a morally reprehensible position to be in.'

He warned the BMA that there isn't a ‘more pro-doctor, pro-NHS, health secretary or government waiting in the wings. There is Nigel Farage and the Reform Party'.

Streeting told the conference he came into office in the resident doctors' corner, wanting to make progress, he pledged: 'I will make progress on speciality training places, because it's the right thing to do. I will tackle the international medical graduates issue, because it's the right thing to do, I will do both of those things without the BMA.'

The BMA has yet to respond to the comments.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, responded: ‘No one wins if these strikes go ahead. We hope the BMA's leadership will take serious note of this damning assertion from the health and social care secretary before it proceeds with its next round of industrial action. If not, these strikes will do nothing but risk exposing patients to avoidable harm and as was announced, weaken what the government can then afford to offer resident doctors in response to their demands.

‘The BMA must stop these strikes and accept that resident doctors have already received a significant pay increase. With further funding just not available, there is neither the financial nor moral case for these walkouts.'