New party fighting NHS reforms to target top Tories at election

The National Health Action party, made up of healthcare professionals opposing the reforms, is also aiming to contest the seats of Chancellor George Osborne, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Education Minister David Laws and Andrew Lansley, the former Health Secretary responsible for the controversial reforms.

Co-leader Dr Clive Peedell, a consultant clinical oncologist, said: “David Cameron and Andrew Lansley are the main creators of market-driven health policies which are destroying the NHS.

“David Cameron has full responsibility for pushing through the Health and Social Care Bill this year, ignoring fierce opposition from the public, the medical profession and other NHS workers.

“George Osborne is pressing ahead with incredibly damaging austerity measures, and his Treasury is taking back front-line money from the NHS. David Laws is a Liberal Democrat who does not believe in the NHS and wants to see a European-model social insurance scheme for healthcare.”

The National Health Action (NHA) party, co-led by Dr Peedell and Dr Richard Taylor, a former independent MP for Wyre Forest from 2001 to 2010, is aiming to put up 50 candidates

The party’s members say the Act – which was pushed through Parliament by the coalition despite opposition from NHS professionals, patient groups, unions and Labour – will allow the NHS in England to be “increasingly dismantled”.

Dr Peedell added: “NHA will send a clear message to the public that the NHS will be increasingly dismantled and handed over to the corporate sector unless we fight to maintain it as a public service, dedicated to the public interest.”

He said pro-austerity agendas damaged people’s health, pushed up suicide rates and increased demand on healthcare resources.