Death threat claim by Labour MP Ian Austin over challenge to UKIP's NHS policy
A row over UKIP's position on the NHS has turned nasty with a Labour MP claiming to have received a 'death threat' for challenging the party on it.
Dudley North MP Ian Austin said he received the anonymous threat as he criticised UKIP leader Nigel Farage over a video from 2012 where he was seen speculating on 'an insurance-based system of healthcare'.
The party stressed it had no plans to privatise the service in the wake of condemnation from Labour MPs.
Mr Farage said it was not UKIP's policy.
On Twitter Mr Austin said: "Charming. Just been emailed a death threat by someone who thinks I shouldn't comment on Farage's views on NHS. Anonymous coward of course."
His UKIP opponent in the key marginal seat, Bill Etheridge, said: "Just over 15 years ago the NHS saved my mother and helped her beat cancer.
"I have served as a hospital governor to help stand up for the NHS.
"When Labour propagate lies about Ukip wanting to privatise the NHS I take it very personally."
He then challenged Mr Austin to a public debate.
UKIP West Midlands MEP Jill Seymour said: "We have been accused of talking about privatisation, but this is not on our agenda.
"We now hear that Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson is bidding to take over cancer and end of life care on the NHS by looking to secure a £689 million contract to provide treatment for terminally ill patients in Staffordshire.
"This is a slippery slope which would see the private sector delivering all cancer and end-of-life treatment for children and adults across Staffordshire and the Potteries.
"The government must pull their fingers out of their ears and start acting to protect our sacred NHS, instead of allowing back-door privatisation which puts it in the hands of firms more interested in shareholder profits."
But Mr Austin said: "UKIP would go even further than the Tories who have already pushed £12 million debts on our local hospital and are forcing local people to wait longer for everything from emergency treatment to chemotherapy."
And Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, said the video showed UKIP did believe in privatising the NHS.
He said: "These are not distant comments dragged up from decades ago. This was only two years ago when he was leader of his party. These comments expose the underlying nature of Mr Farage as an avowed Thatcherite who seeks Labour votes but has nothing in common with Labour values."
Mr Farage said last week: "We're absolutely committed to healthcare being free at the point of delivery.
"There are reforms we want within the system. Yes, we want efficiencies. Yes, we think that actually the PFI deals that Labour has hung round the necks of our hospitals - we're really going to urge local authorities to buy those out as soon as they humanly can - and we'll also be talking about middle management in the NHS, which has grown by 48 per cent since 1997."
