Stafford Hospital campaigners in next election hopes
A branch of a political party fighting NHS changes has been set up by members of a campaign group battling to keep services at Stafford Hospital – and could field a candidate in the next general election.
Support Stafford Hospital member Karen Howells has linked up with the National Health Action Party, which is led by former Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor.
They could field a general election candidate in 2015 and hope thousands of people concerned about the future of health services in Stafford will get behind them.
Joint leader Dr Taylor has already announced he will stand for election for the party. He won the Wyre Forest seat in 2001 as an independent after campaigning against cuts to Kidderminster Hospital.
Richard Duffy, spokesman for the NHA new Stafford branch, said: "Karen had the idea of starting the branch and a few people showed interest so we have moved it forward. The party allows us to decide on our own agenda so we are currently drawing that up. A decision hasn't been made yet but we could field a candidate in the general election. People in Stafford have had a raw deal for years and years with the NHS and have been put off by conventional politics so we are hopeful that we will get a lot of support."
Dr Taylor, 79, who held the Wyre Forest seat as an independent MP from 2001 to 2010, said a decision has not been made yet over fielding candidates. He said: "We are only at the stage of discussing things at the moment. We are going to be terribly, terribly careful where we stand, and that is going to be the subject of discussion."
Support Stafford Hospital spokesman Maurice Blisson said: "It may well be, that people will welcome the aspirations of the new party in the privacy of the ballot box but the campaign actively supports no party."
