Advice on GP refusing to give test strips?

I did.

I get free prescriptions though, so it made sense to ask if I could get them free first.

Another update... my blood sugars got out of control again despite continuing to take the Metformin and despite a carefully controlled very low carb diet. So I was referred to a specialist who put me on insulin straight away while we wait for my test results to come back. But he thinks I am producing little to no insulin of my own and will probably need to go onto injections permanently.