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| Tories hit back in NHS attack row | Tories hit back in NHS attack row |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives have sought to reassure voters that the NHS is safe in their hands after one of their MEPs joined in with US attacks on it. | The Conservatives have sought to reassure voters that the NHS is safe in their hands after one of their MEPs joined in with US attacks on it. |
| Daniel Hannan added his voice to criticism of Barack Obama's health reforms, telling US TV he "wouldn't wish" the NHS "on anyone". | Daniel Hannan added his voice to criticism of Barack Obama's health reforms, telling US TV he "wouldn't wish" the NHS "on anyone". |
| But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the MEP's comments gave a "distorted" view of the health service. | But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the MEP's comments gave a "distorted" view of the health service. |
| It came after PM Gordon Brown joined a Twitter campaign to defend the NHS. | |
| The welovetheNHS tag has received tens of thousands of messages of support during the past few days from NHS staff and former patients after it was branded "Orwellian" and "evil" by Republican critics of Mr Obama's health reforms. | The welovetheNHS tag has received tens of thousands of messages of support during the past few days from NHS staff and former patients after it was branded "Orwellian" and "evil" by Republican critics of Mr Obama's health reforms. |
| The prime minister took the unusual step of adding his voice to the campaign in a message posted from Downing Street's Twitter feed, in which he said "thanks for always being there". His wife Sarah, also sent a message of support to the campaign. | The prime minister took the unusual step of adding his voice to the campaign in a message posted from Downing Street's Twitter feed, in which he said "thanks for always being there". His wife Sarah, also sent a message of support to the campaign. |
| 'Powerful examples' | 'Powerful examples' |
| Tory leader David Cameron, who is not on Twitter, has also weighed in to defend the NHS, saying his party was 100% behind it. He has sent an e-mail message to supporters saying: "Millions of people are grateful for the care they have received from the NHS - including my own family. | Tory leader David Cameron, who is not on Twitter, has also weighed in to defend the NHS, saying his party was 100% behind it. He has sent an e-mail message to supporters saying: "Millions of people are grateful for the care they have received from the NHS - including my own family. |
| What he said was both a negative view of the NHS, but more to the point was a distorted view of the NHS Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary | What he said was both a negative view of the NHS, but more to the point was a distorted view of the NHS Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary |
| "One of the wonderful things about living in this country is that the moment you're injured or fall ill - no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you've got - you know that the NHS will look after you." | "One of the wonderful things about living in this country is that the moment you're injured or fall ill - no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you've got - you know that the NHS will look after you." |
| Many of the Twitter messages reacted angrily to Mr Hannan's criticism of the NHS, which he attacked on US TV as a "60 year mistake". | Many of the Twitter messages reacted angrily to Mr Hannan's criticism of the NHS, which he attacked on US TV as a "60 year mistake". |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, who has sought to rebrand the Conservatives as the "party of the NHS", stressed Mr Hannan's views were not those of the party but he would not be disciplined for expressing them. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, who has sought to rebrand the Conservatives as the "party of the NHS", stressed Mr Hannan's views were not those of the party but he would not be disciplined for expressing them. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don't extend discipline in parties to political censorship of people's views, we encourage free speech in the Conservative Party. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don't extend discipline in parties to political censorship of people's views, we encourage free speech in the Conservative Party. |
| "It's just that we don't, David Cameron and I, don't happen to agree with Dan Hannan. | "It's just that we don't, David Cameron and I, don't happen to agree with Dan Hannan. |
| "What he said was both a negative view of the NHS, but more to the point was a distorted view of the NHS." | "What he said was both a negative view of the NHS, but more to the point was a distorted view of the NHS." |
| 'Duped' | 'Duped' |
| He also suggested the NHS could set examples for America's healthcare system - but added that elements of the US model could be used to improve the NHS. | He also suggested the NHS could set examples for America's healthcare system - but added that elements of the US model could be used to improve the NHS. |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb claimed Mr Hannan's views, far from being "maverick", were shared by "many people within the Conservative Party". | |
| He also criticised | |
| Mr Hannan, who came to prominence with a strongly-worded YouTube attack on Gordon Brown, has been a longstanding critic of the NHS, but he has stressed that it is his personal view and not party policy. | Mr Hannan, who came to prominence with a strongly-worded YouTube attack on Gordon Brown, has been a longstanding critic of the NHS, but he has stressed that it is his personal view and not party policy. |
| Nevertheless, the row has been seized on by David Cameron's political opponents - particularly as the Tory leader has made support for the NHS a key part of his efforts to rebrand the party and has vowed to protect it from spending cuts if he comes to power. | Nevertheless, the row has been seized on by David Cameron's political opponents - particularly as the Tory leader has made support for the NHS a key part of his efforts to rebrand the party and has vowed to protect it from spending cuts if he comes to power. |
| US critics of the NHS see it as an overly-bureaucratic "socialized" system which rations care. | US critics of the NHS see it as an overly-bureaucratic "socialized" system which rations care. |
| But one British woman said she felt duped after becoming the unwitting star of an anti-Obama health campaign. | But one British woman said she felt duped after becoming the unwitting star of an anti-Obama health campaign. |
| Kate Spall, who appeared in a US free market group's TV commercial opposing Mr Obama's health bill, said her views were misrepresented. | Kate Spall, who appeared in a US free market group's TV commercial opposing Mr Obama's health bill, said her views were misrepresented. |
| She told the Times: "It has been a bit of a nightmare. It was a real test of my naivety. I am a very trusting person and for me it has been a big lesson. I feel I was duped." | She told the Times: "It has been a bit of a nightmare. It was a real test of my naivety. I am a very trusting person and for me it has been a big lesson. I feel I was duped." |
| Ms Spall and fellow Briton Katie Brickell's descriptions of poor treatment at the hands of the NHS featured in the Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR) advert. | Ms Spall and fellow Briton Katie Brickell's descriptions of poor treatment at the hands of the NHS featured in the Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR) advert. |