South West MEP Defends NHS against Tory Attacks

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Aug 2009

Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson has joined the growing number of voices defending Britain's National Health Service against comments made by a Conservative MEP on a US tour.

Responding to Daniel Hannan MEP's criticism of the very nature of the NHS by saying that 'he would not wish it upon anybody', Mr Watson commented;

"European health care systems are not perfect, but a healthcare system that leaves no-one behind is something that defines Europeans from others around the world. We should be proud of this. The NHS is less well funded than many continental health care systems, but it has highly trained and conscientious staff who work hard to give good patient care available to all. By contrast, the American system is open only to those who can pay.

He added of the fiercely Eurosceptic MEP;

"I have heard Daniel Hannan make some wild comments in the European Parliament over the years, but this is unrivalled. It goes to show that you cannot believe the Tory spin about being the progressive party in British politics."