Cameron Dubs Hannan 'Eccentric'

A Tory MEP's controversial views on the NHS have been branded "eccentric" by party leader David Cameron.

Mr Cameron today moved to distance himself from comments made by Daniel Hannan, who denounced the National Health Service on American TV.

Mr Hannan described the public service as a "60 year mistake", however, Mr Cameron hoped to reassure voters on his party's position, by stating the NHS was a "number one priority".

The MEP expressed his views on the Fox News Channel during a debate over US President Barack Obama's plans to establish a similar system in America.

Labour and the Lib Dems claim Mr Hannan's views are shared by many Conservatives.

But Mr Cameron told the BBC: "The Conservative Party stands four square behind the NHS.

"We are the party of the NHS, we back it, we are going to expand it, we have ring-fenced it and said that it will get more money under a Conservative government, and it is our number one mission to improve it."

Speaking on Mr Hannan's outburst, the Tory boss said: "He does have some quite eccentric views about some things, and political parties always include some people who don't toe the party line on one issue or another issue."

Political opponents have been quick to react to the MEP's view, starting a lively debate on the social networking tool Twitter.

Both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah have voiced their unreserved support for the NHS on the site, under the Twitter heading 'welovethenhs'.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham claimed recent events are Mr Cameron's "worst nightmare".

"Their election strategy is not to talk about the NHS. Cameron knows there is deep hostility towards it within his ranks.

"Hannan is not the only one - many senior Tory MPs would privately agree with his comments," suggested Mr Burnham.

"But by having to interrupt his holiday and being forced out on the defensive yesterday, Cameron had no choice but to lavish belated praise on Labour's NHS."

(PR/BMcC)