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Cameron dismisses Tory critic of NHS as an 'eccentric'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor14 Aug 2009
David Cameron scrambled to reassure voters that his party backed the NHS today as Labour seized on attacks on the service by a high-profile Tory MEP.
The Conservative leader dismissed Dan Hannan as an "eccentric" after he appeared on US television warning Americans not to copy Britain's state-funded system of healthcare.
The health service has come under attack in the US as President Obama fights for his healthcare reforms.
Mr Hannan told US TV viewers that the NHS "puts the power of life and death in a state bureaucracy" and said "I wouldn't wish it on anybody".
He now faces disciplinary action by the Tory chief whip in Brussels. Conservative MEP group leader Timothy Kirkhope told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "An impression has been given in the US about the views of David Cameron and the Conservative party which is not accurate."
Lord Mandelson, standing in for Gordon Brown this week, said most Britons would be appalled that a Tory MEP had gone to America to "slag off the NHS".
Health Secretary Andy Burnham described Mr Hannan's remarks as "unpatriotic" and claimed the row was "David Cameron's worst nightmare" because Mr Hannan spoke for many in the Tory ranks who want a US-style health insurance system in Britain.
Speaking from his constituency in Oxfordshire, Mr Cameron rejected the Labour claims and said the NHS was a "great national institution".
"We are the party of the NHS, we back it, we are going to expand it, we have ring-fenced it and said that it will get more money under a Conservative government, and it is our number one mission to improve it," he said.
Mr Hannan has emerged as a darling of the Tory rank and file because of his YouTube attack on Mr Brown and was given a key speaking slot at the party's spring conference.
But for the first time, Mr Cameron criticised Mr Hannan directly today. "He does have some quite eccentric views about some things, and political parties always include some people who don't toe the party line on one issue or another issue," the Tory leader said.
Mr Burnham said: "What has happened within the last 48 hours is what Cameron has feared most because it lays bare the Tories' deep ambivalence towards the NHS.
"Their election strategy is not to talk about the NHS. Cameron knows there is deep hostility towards it within his ranks. Hannan is not the only one - many senior Tory MPs would privately agree with his comments."
Reader views (13)
The Tories were against the introduction of the NHS right from the start when Beverage got the Idea. Since then, they have slowly been trying to undermine it as was witnessed with the massive ward closures during Thatchers reign. Private run institutions are the religion of the Tories and look at the massive bills we get from the privatised utilities now. A promise to renatonalise these will ensure massive votes for Labour or the Liberals.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 05/10/2009 17:43
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Andy, London - I on the other hand am not an ex-nurse. I am an active nurse who started in the late 70s and worked both in civilian hospitals and the military (before these were eviscerated by the current lot in power - but that's a different gripe...) - I have also worked in BOTH systems, so am a little better informed than you or the other commenters apparently. There is no secret that illegal immigrants amongst other benefits, quite like the "free" NHS treatment - it is estimated that there are up to 20 MILLION illegal immigrants and their families in the USA - they, for some strange reason, quite like the healthcare available to them too (I know this because I've taken care of them in the hospital wards). Obama says that misinformation is being used about his plans - sorry, but I've read his plans (the official release, not the fantasy sections) - British style socialised medicine will cripple the USA. It will certainly introduce massive taxation to pay for it. (Yeah and 'death panels'? Where do I read about 'post-code lotteries'?)
As for your friends still in the NHS Andy? I have a few too. They must be in different hospitals to your friends though because I'm not hearing glowing reports about the NHS that has been in the hands of Labour for how many years now....? Media headlines kinda back up what what my friends have been saying too.
The NHS idea is great - trouble is that people run it, and people have their own agendas.
- Rogan, Irving, 05/10/2009 16:43
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Dan, I'm glad you used the word historically there as the current Labour administration have been equally as guilty as the previous administration.
My father would have been dead 3 times ovber in the last 5 years had it not been for his BUPA, I'll still defend the NHS doctors and nurses to the hilt but it's now become a bureaucratical nightmare where one hand doesn't know what the other is doing, notes are lost and long term health care is an utter travesty.
- Bob, Cheam, 05/10/2009 16:43
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When I watched Mr Hannan on Question Time just before the European elections, he sure scared the hell out of me and I'm a a traditional conservative. I thought I'm a million miles away from this guy's views and not to mention his very off-putting personality. He is definately different to put it mildly and it now seems a liability to Conservative party ambitions; yet another loose cannon for David Cameron to deal with. The sad thing is, he has also undermined the great work Barack Obama is trying to do; to give some basic medical care to more than 40 million American people who cannot afford medical insurance. What Mr Hannan said was music to the Republicans' ears. The trouble is they will believe Mr Hannan is representative of the British people, which he certainly is not. He represents no one but himself on this one. MEPs should keep their noses out of US domestic politics and get on with representing the UK in Europe for which they are paid very well to do.
- Simon Icke, Aston Clinton, England, 05/10/2009 16:43
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Cameron is just the 'nice face' of the Tory party promising the safety of the NHS - many of the current MPs and MEPs do not support Cameron's stance and favour the policies implemented by Thatcher - these policies almost brought the NHS to its knees (and whilst it is not perfect now it is a lot better than it was under the Tories)! Sadly, I doubt the NHS would be safe under the Tories for very long (how long will any 'ring fencing' last?). All parties will say whatever they think will get themselves elected.
- Andy, london, 05/10/2009 16:43
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I am looking forward to Mr Hannam addressing the Tory Party Conference. It will be instructive to see whether the audience boos or applauds and what Cameron's reaction will be.
- R Wright, Acton England, 05/10/2009 16:43
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I resent the way the Left - epitomised by posters such as "Andy" above (you're not a certain MP are you by any chance?) try to tar all Conservatives with the same brush!
Most of us - David Cameron especially, as his family owes so much to it - support the NHS wholeheartedly and appreciate the tireless care given by doctors, nurses and other health workers. No system is perfect, but the NHS is far preferable than having to provide proof of ability to pay before being scraped up off the road in an accident in the United States!
- Sally Roberts, Hammersmith, London, UK, 05/10/2009 16:43
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As a wise man once said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" so for Andy Burnham to choose to call Daniel Hannan 'unpatriotic' just goes to show how Labour really are scraping the bottom of the barrel in their dying days.
- Perky Pink, London, 05/10/2009 16:43
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Pay them the same but quarter the amount of MPS and ministers or better still pull out of Europe and give them some proper work to do rather than pretending to do anything worthwhile.
Perhaps we should introduce time and motion into westminister!
- Gary, Brentwood, 05/10/2009 16:43
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It's hilarious watching the Conservatives bending over backwards to look like they care about the NHS when historically they have been one of its greatest detractors from the moment it was conceived
- Dan, London, 05/10/2009 16:43
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Sally -I'm not an MP, I'm an ex-nurse (with friends still working for the NHS).
I didn't tar all the Tories with the same brush - I said 'many' of the MPs. If you look at how they have voted in the last 10-20 years on NHS issues and their comments on how the NHS should be run (increasing private companies/ insurance input) I think you will find that 'many' is correct.
I am a huge fan/supporter of the NHS and I certainly agree with you that we shouldn't go down the US route but unfortunately there are a significant number of MPs who do not believe that the State should fund the NHS or would prefer that all but those on very low incomes should have access to it with everyone else having separate private health insurance with only an emergency service available free at point of service for all. Certainly some changes need to be made to the NHS but every time private companies are brought in they cut the service provided and their focus is on making money for their shareholders and not the patients! An example is the privatisation of the cleaning services within hospitals brought in by Thatcher-the hospital I was working in lost over 1/3 of the cleaners and those remaining had to do the work that the full complement of cleaners had previously done. Immediately the wards were not as clean and infection rates rose and a greater number of cross ward infections occurred-previously each ward had had its own cleaners -then suddenly cleaners worked in all wards-rise in infection
- Andy, london, 05/10/2009 16:43
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Perhaps its Cameron who is the eccentric while this MEP speaks the real voice of the Tory Party. It was afterall them who changed the NHS set up by introducing NHS Trusts and a system based on purchaser/provider back in the 80/90s a first stage to privatisation?
As for America well many firms make bilions of dollars out of unnessary healthcare and they are naturally fighting to protect themselves.
While as for waiting lists well I am sure the queues are longer in Primark than in Saville Row but then its a matter of how many can afford to shop there.
While waiting list are smaller in the the U.S.A simply because many who need treatment cant afford it so they are not shown on the queue. That is how it was here before the NHS started.
Anyway, President Obama has said an American solution is required because at present healthcare is often linked to work, however when someone becomes unemployed there is no backup provision until a new job with provision is found.
Its ironic how all these right wing extremists who are so called religious go on about evil socialism when the real founder of Socialist healthcare was Jesus Christ - well did he want to see the blind mans healthcare provision before making him see again?
As for Cameron why has he not withdrawn the european whip from this MEP if he does'nt then we know which side he really is on!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 05/10/2009 16:43
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This story is being overhyped beyond all reason! The guy is an MEP so has no say over domestic policy, and anyway what's wrong with having different opinions expressed? Debate is healthy! The news channels have rolled out every New (or Old) Labour person they can find to opine that this is official Conservative policy, which is patently is not - we've hand Mandelson on again (is he the new Carol Vorderman), and even Prescott has been lured out of the pie shop!
- Paul, London, 05/10/2009 16:43
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