The Tory MEP Daniel Hannan was today condemned in strong terms by the shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley for his remarks to Fox News about the NHS.

He said:

There are millions of people who are grateful for the care they have received from the NHS.

It does them and the NHS a disservice for Daniel Hannan to give Americans such a negative and partial view. That we can access healthcare free at point of use, based on need, is something others envy.

Our task is to ensure that the quality of care is consistently excellent. And the service is efficient and responsive to patients. Choice, competition and information, focused on outcomes, will deliver this.

The remarks were seen as unusually strong, even by Fox News’ sister station Sky News.

Journalist Naill Paterson said:

I’d say this was quite a powerful intervention by Lansley – certainly it serves to distance CCO from their maverick MEP. I still wonder, however, how much effect these words will have, unless backed by private words from the party leader.

Let us not forget, Daniel Hannan has forced the Shadow Health Secretary to denounce a party colleague, and one elected to office under the Tory banner. Where do Mr Hannan’s loyalties lie, to his new-found neo-con admirers or to his party?

He had earlier added that Hannan had the potential to do great damage to the Tory party.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

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2. sunny hundal

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3. Jamie Sport

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4. Josh Hall

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5. Jonn Elledge

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6. Liberal Conspiracy

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7. sunny hundal

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8. Jamie Sport

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9. Josh Hall

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   [Original tweet]

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11. Sven Rufus

    @mike_weatherley What, Daniel 'wouldn't wish NHS on anyone' Hannan? http://t.co/VX0bDyTK I can live with that. Do you agree with him on NHS?

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