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Smith backers defend commitment to publicly funded NHS Owen Smith defends commitment to publicly funded NHS
(about 4 hours later)
Backers of Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith have defended him against claims questioning his commitment to a fully publicly funded NHS. Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith says claims he backed a greater role for the private sector in the NHS are "complete nonsense".
They say his remarks made as a lobbyist for a pharmaceuticals firm about "choice" have been taken out of context and he is committed to free healthcare. This follows comments he made about "choice" while working for the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in 2005.
The deadline to register for the vote between the Pontypridd MP and current leader Jeremy Corbyn is 17:00 BST. Mr Smith says he always supported "a fully publicly funded NHS" and the Times story was "a hatchet job" aimed at damaging his leadership campaign.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Mr Smith can unite the party.Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Mr Smith can unite the party.
Mr Smith's emergence as the sole challenger to Mr Corbyn comes after weeks of turmoil within the party following the UK's vote to leave the EU, which triggered a mass walkout from the shadow cabinet and an emphatic vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn by his MPs. Mr Smith's emergence as the sole challenger to Mr Corbyn comes after weeks of turmoil within the party following the UK's vote to leave the EU, which triggered a mass walkout from the shadow cabinet and a vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn by his MPs.
Mr Smith will go up against Mr Corbyn in a head-to-head contest over the next two months, in which party members who joined Labour before 12 January, members of trade unions affiliated to Labour and registered supporters who sign up by paying £25 before the deadline will be able to take part. Mr Smith will go up against Mr Corbyn in a head-to-head contest over the next two months, in which party members who joined Labour before 12 January, members of trade unions affiliated to Labour and registered supporters who sign up by paying £25 before the 17:00 deadline on Wednesday will be able to take part.
It comes after Angela Eagle pulled out of Labour's leadership race on Tuesday and backed ex-shadow work and pensions secretary Mr Smith in his bid to become leader.It comes after Angela Eagle pulled out of Labour's leadership race on Tuesday and backed ex-shadow work and pensions secretary Mr Smith in his bid to become leader.
'Disunited party''Disunited party'
Mr Smith's team, however, has found itself having to fend off questions about his past remarks on the NHS.Mr Smith's team, however, has found itself having to fend off questions about his past remarks on the NHS.
Unnamed allies of Mr Corbyn have seized on Mr Smith's comments as a lobbyist, reports the Times.Unnamed allies of Mr Corbyn have seized on Mr Smith's comments as a lobbyist, reports the Times.
In 2005, as a communications consultant for Pfizer, Mr Smith was quoted in press release comments as saying: "We believe that choice is a good thing", adding that patients and healthcare professionals "should be at the heart of developing the agenda". In 2005, as a communications consultant for Pfizer, Mr Smith was quoted in press release comments as saying "we believe that choice is a good thing", adding that patients and healthcare professionals "should be at the heart of developing the agenda".
He was referring to a Pfizer-backed report about public attitudes to a range of ideas on healthcare provision, including care outside hospitals and further expansion of private providers.He was referring to a Pfizer-backed report about public attitudes to a range of ideas on healthcare provision, including care outside hospitals and further expansion of private providers.
But a spokesman for Mr Smith said people were raking over remarks in an old press release and as a member of Labour's front bench he has been "crystal clear that he is 100% committed to a fully publicly owned NHS, free at the point of use. He has repeatedly argued passionately for this". But he says his comments were taken at a time when the Labour government was seeking to expand independent provision to clear a backlog of operations.
Both Ms Eagle and Mr Smith said whichever of the two them had the least support in the parliamentary party would withdraw from the race to challenge Mr Corbyn for the leadership, to which he was overwhelmingly elected only last September. He says they were also made in response to a report by the left leaning Institute for Public Policy Research, commissioned before he worked at Pfizer.
Although nominations officially close on Wednesday, Mr Smith had built up a lead over his rival, winning the backing of 90 MPs and MEPs. A spokesman for Mr Smith also said people were raking over remarks in an old press release and as a member of Labour's front bench he has been "crystal clear that he is 100% committed to a fully publicly owned NHS, free at the point of use. He has repeatedly argued passionately for this".
Meanwhile, in a statement on his Facebook page, Mr Miliband urges Labour supporters to register to vote in the leadership election and back Mr Smith. Meanwhile, in a statement on his Facebook page, Mr Miliband urged Labour supporters to register to vote in the leadership election and back Mr Smith.
"Labour isn't fated to be a disunited party arguing with each other. Turning inwards not outwards," Mr Miliband says."Labour isn't fated to be a disunited party arguing with each other. Turning inwards not outwards," Mr Miliband says.
"We can be a strong party, putting forward progressive ideas, challenging the Tories, and being in a position to win an election, reaching out to voters across the country, not talking to ourselves.""We can be a strong party, putting forward progressive ideas, challenging the Tories, and being in a position to win an election, reaching out to voters across the country, not talking to ourselves."
Mr Smith, a former BBC journalist who was elected to Parliament in 2010, said he was "just as radical as Jeremy Corbyn" and would "move Labour on" from the turmoil of recent months and return it to power.Mr Smith, a former BBC journalist who was elected to Parliament in 2010, said he was "just as radical as Jeremy Corbyn" and would "move Labour on" from the turmoil of recent months and return it to power.
"I will be setting out to unite Labour with a radical vision for the future of our party and Britain, backed up by a credible plan to deliver," he said."I will be setting out to unite Labour with a radical vision for the future of our party and Britain, backed up by a credible plan to deliver," he said.
Mr Corbyn acknowledged the party was divided but said he was proud of his achievements over the past 10 months and believed he should be given the chance to build on them.Mr Corbyn acknowledged the party was divided but said he was proud of his achievements over the past 10 months and believed he should be given the chance to build on them.
"My vision is built around an economy that delivers for everyone, in every part of the country," he said. "Let's have a comradely debate this summer - and emerge stronger and more united to protect our communities and defeat this Conservative government.""My vision is built around an economy that delivers for everyone, in every part of the country," he said. "Let's have a comradely debate this summer - and emerge stronger and more united to protect our communities and defeat this Conservative government."
Labour leadership election timetableLabour leadership election timetable
Analysis by the BBC's political editor Laura KuenssbergAnalysis by the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg
In the last two weeks Owen Smith has gone from someone who one MP described as "just playing games" to being the official challenger to Jeremy Corbyn. In the last two weeks, Owen Smith has gone from being someone who one MP described as "just playing games" to being the official challenger to Jeremy Corbyn.
Can he pull off a far bigger ask of actually beating him, and demolishing Mr Corbyn's mountain of membership support?Can he pull off a far bigger ask of actually beating him, and demolishing Mr Corbyn's mountain of membership support?
On his side is, finally perhaps, unity among the vast majority of Labour MPs and MEPs.On his side is, finally perhaps, unity among the vast majority of Labour MPs and MEPs.
Angela Eagle dropped out with dignity so that there would be only one candidate. Owen Smith was warm in his tribute to her tonight and dropped heavy hints about campaigning side by side with her in the next two months to smooth the way for senior MPs to work together.Angela Eagle dropped out with dignity so that there would be only one candidate. Owen Smith was warm in his tribute to her tonight and dropped heavy hints about campaigning side by side with her in the next two months to smooth the way for senior MPs to work together.
It's understood he has promised her the position of shadow chancellor if he wins the post. And despite some disquiet inside the party about not fielding a female candidate, in most quarters there is relief and a new focus now there is only one candidate and the race is under way.It's understood he has promised her the position of shadow chancellor if he wins the post. And despite some disquiet inside the party about not fielding a female candidate, in most quarters there is relief and a new focus now there is only one candidate and the race is under way.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura