Independent Health Concern has published a leaflet for distribution in Stourport on Severn. Wyre Forest Conservatives are taking the unprecedented measure of responding to this leaflet. Speaking on behalf of the Conservatives, Mark Garnier says: "The Wyre Forest Conservatives are deeply saddened that Health Concern has chosen to use their final election leaflet in Stourport to attack the Conservatives.
"In 1999, when Health Concern first started their campaign to try to save Kidderminster Hospital from cuts, they were welcomed by all in Wyre Forest as a party who can add to the local political debate. Indeed, when Richard Taylor was elected to Parliament in 2001, the Conservative Parliamentary Party stepped in to help him by giving up one of our seats on the important Health Select Committee thus giving Richard a louder voice in Westminster.
"We are therefore deeply saddened that a political party that showed so much promise in 1999 has chosen not to use their final leaflet in Stourport to describe how they will help the residents of Stourport and, indeed, the wider Wyre Forest. Instead they have decided that political mud slinging is their chosen method of seducing voters."
The leaflet discusses a recent Conservative newsletter about the hospital and suggests that the Conservatives are unfit to be in power anywhere. Continuing, Mark Garnier adds:
"Conservatives locally have been collecting a petition against Gordon Brown's health cuts. Nationally, Conservatives now rate as the party people trust the most to run an efficient health service. Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has a team working with him to formulate a policy that will provide a better NHS for the entire country.
"The Conservative Party is demonstrating how things will improve under a David Cameron government, and have already demonstrated locally how things have improved under a Conservative administration on the district council. Wyre Forest Conservatives welcome positive ideas from all parties. Now is the time for positive action - not negative protesting."