General Election 2015: Doctor wants a return to house

The 80-year-old former doctor is seeking election in May and is spending the morning in Bewdley handing out flyers and attempting to press stickers onto the coats of passers-by.

I meet him at the George Hotel Wetherspoons and – too my surprise – I can see no sign of the usual pack of PR 'managers' and hangers-on.

He is wearing a homely red jumper and green coat and is accompanied only by the town's former mayor Linda Candlin.

Within minutes of stepping outside several passers-by have recognised Dr Taylor, who represented the Wyre Forest constituency from 2001 until 2010 and has lived in nearby Kidderminster since 1972.

"I think the fact I am local appeals to a lot of people, absolutely," he said.

"People are often angered when MPs are parachuted in and they are not part of the community they represent.

"I was a doctor here for more than 20 years. The huge advantage of doing that is most people like you because you have been able to help them."

By campaigning to restore the accident and emergency department at Kidderminster Hospital, which was shut in 2000, Dr Taylor stormed to victory in the following year's general election.

Representing Independent Community and Health Concern he was able to secure the support of nearly 60 percent of the electorate.

He won again in 2005, but with a much reduced majority, and was defeated in 2010 by Conservative Mark Garnier.

During his time as MP he was among the least expensive 10 members in terms of expenses claimed.

And he said he understands why people become frustrated with the combative politics witnessed each Wednesday at Prime Minister's Questions.

"It is one of the faults of politics – that it always has to be confrontational," he said.

"Even when it is over something so important for everyone like the NHS you can't get them working together.

"If one side says something is black the other has to say it is white."

At this election he will once again be standing as an Independent, which he says gives him the freedom from party whips to do what is right by his constituents.

"I have got experience of two terms as an independent MP - and it gives you a huge, huge advantage," he said.

"You can vote with the Government if what they are proposing is right for local people and you can vote against them if they have got it wrong.

"It is the 'ideal' part of being an independent MP. I simply couldn't be a party MP. I wouldn't want to do whatever I was told."

Dr Taylor believes he will provide voters on May 7 with an alternative to mainstream politics.

But with the debate over Kidderminster's A&E department now 15 years in the past, the question will be if he can garner the same levels of support without an emotive local issue.

He has decided to stand again to fight what he views as dangerous Government reforms to the NHS. He is ardently against the privatisation of his former employer.

"I am hoping now the threat to the NHS generally will replace the local issue to some extent," he said.

"New Labour harmed the NHS in the past and harmed our hospital services here in Wyre Forest. The Tories, if they get back in, privatisation will certainly take off more and more.

"I want to take an independent voice to parliament to stick up for the NHS."

In Dr Taylor's view, private providers are wholly unsuited to running a health service.

Pressure to return profits leads them to concentrate on the 'easy bits' of medicine where they can "turn out patients like a sausage factory and make their money," he said.

He thinks they are much less inclined to take-on emergency procedures, with the obvious consequences.

So confident is Dr Taylor in people's appreciation of the NHS he believes they would support a policy putting a penny on income tax, if that money was to be used to directly support the service.

At 80-years-old, Dr Taylor is still brimming with ideas and showing no signs of slowing down.

The father-of-four and grandfather-of-five very quickly denies any suggestion he has 'done his bit' and could honourably step away from politics and enjoy retirement.

"I am no good at doing nothing," he said. "And look at what people like Gladstone and Churchill did. Both of them served into their 80s.

"There is no reason to not go on and I am incredibly lucky with my health and the support I have from my family.

"My wife's favourite quote is 'you are only as old as the woman you feel.'"

As we walk toward the River Severn to get one final photo it is clear Dr Taylor has not forgotten the fact he was elected on a specifically local issue.

He is keen to talk about Kidderminster Hospital and the need, as he sees it, for the presence of a doctor in the minor injuries unit to keep patients in the area and 'take the load off' A&E at Worcester.

Health care is in this doctor's blood. There may no longer be an A&E department to save but the NHS is still top of his agenda.

It is by focusing on the nation's cherished service and rejecting the combative soap opera of Westminster that he hopes to secure a remarkable third term in Parliament.