News from Labour Matters

Shadow health secretary “bankrolled” by private health firm

The Daily Telegraph reports that Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary is “bankrolled” by a private health firm:

John Nash, the chairman of Care UK, gave £21,000 to fund Andrew Lansley’s personal office in November.

Mr Nash, a private equity tycoon, also manages several other businesses providing services to the NHS and stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Conservative policies to increase the use of private health providers.

A senior Labour source said: “This raises serious questions about Andrew Lansley’s judgement and it is difficult to see how he can continue on in his role as shadow health secretary when it would appear that a private health care company is helping to fund the development of Tory healthy policy.

“David Cameron claims that the Tories are now the party of the NHS – it makes his claim look more absurd than ever.

“How can the public trust Cameron on the NHS when his health secretary is hand in glove with a big beneficiary of Tory health policy?

“There is an apparent contradiction at the heart of Tory health policy and we urgently need to hear a detailed read out of what this money was donated in exchange for or the money should be refunded.”

Read the full article.

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