Uxbridge by-election campaign in chaos as Tory says NHS should be abolished

19 July 2023 , 10:18

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Uxbridge by-election campaign in chaos as Tory says NHS should be abolished

A key figure in the Tory by-election campaign in Uxbridge and South Ruislip called for the NHS to be abolished.

Reem Ibrahim has repeatedly attacked the health service, which she described as a “mistake”. The campaigner signed the nomination papers for Conservative Party candidate Steve Tuckwell.

Labour last night said it showed the Tories cannot be trusted with the NHS.

In the wake of the pandemic in November 2021, Ms Ibrahim tweeted “The NHS is certainly not something to be proud of.” In May this year, she posted: “Break up the NHS (or get rid of it entirely).”

Last month, she added: “We just shouldn’t have an NHS.” And earlier this month as the health service celebrates its 75th birthday, she wrote: “Establishing the NHS was a mistake.”

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Reem Ibrahim signed the nomination papers for Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell

Labour is hoping to overturn the Tories’ majority in the West London seat where Boris Johnson was the MP. He stood down in disgrace ahead of the publication of a damning report that found he lied and lied and lied about Partygate.

A Labour source said: “How can voters believe anything that comes out of the Tory candidate's mouth? He says he values our NHS, but these shocking revelations show that his Tory friends want to scrap the NHS entirely.

“Tomorrow the NHS and the future of Hillingdon Hospital is on the ballot paper. Labour will deliver a new hospital in the first term of government. Only Labour can be trusted with the NHS.”

By-elections are also being held in Selby and Ainsty where Mr Johnson’s pal Nigel Adams quit and Somerton and Frome where David Warburton stood down after he was pictured with lines of cocaine. If the Tories lose all three seats it would be a disaster for Rishi Sunak and worsen fears in the party they face a drubbing at the next general election.

Keir Starmer is hoping Labour will pick up Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty, while the Lib Dems are targeting Somerton and Frome.

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John Stevens