David Cameron's NHS 'safe' claim hit by lack of support from Tory MPs

Written by James Lyons and published in The Daily Mirror on Mon 24th Aug 2009

David Cameron's claim that the NHS is safe in Tory hands has been hit by a poll showing most of his MPs say it has no future in its current form.

The survey of 150 MPs revealed that two thirds of Conservatives want tax breaks for patients who go private and firms to take over the running of failing hospitals.

It comes just days after the Tory leader was forced to distance himself from Euro MP Daniel Hannan who branded the NHS "a 60-year mistake" on American TV.

Almost a third of those who took part in the poll were Tories.

Just over half want people to be able to claim the cost of private health insurance against tax. And 37 out of 45 said private firms should be brought in to run hospitals if they failed to meet care standards.

Many admitted in the ComRes survey they are telling Mr Cameron behind the scenes that he must drastically change the NHS if he wins power.

Chancellor Alistair Darling warned the Tory MPs' suggestions would have a devastating effect. He said: "Tax breaks for private healthcare would take money away from the health service and undo the real progress we have made with the NHS over the last 12 years."

And he added: "David Cameron can no longer hide the two faces of his party on the NHS."