Tories clash with David Cameron on NHS policy

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Tory leader has pledged to increase spending on the NHS if he wins the next election, while reducing other public spending to cut the debt mountain built up under Gordon Brown.

But many Conservatives oppose the funding pledge for the health service, arguing it will mean very painful cuts elsewhere.

The ComRes poll found 29 per cent of Tory backbenchers support guaranteeing a real terms rise in NHS spending over the next Parliament, with 62 per cent against.

And 62 per cent of Tory MPs failed to back the current NHS model, funded by general taxation and free at the point of delivery, as sustainable for the next six decades, with only a third believing it can survive without radical restructuring over such a period.

More than half of Conservative MPs also supported the use of tax breaks to encourage the take-up of private healthcare.

Labour seized on the findings, with Chancellor Alistair Darling saying: "This poll shows where the heart of the Tory party lies."

However, a separate poll for ComRes found nearly half of people disagreed that the NHS would be safer under Labour than the Conservatives,