Doctors go cold on Labour

Over two thirds of doctors who publicly backed New Labour in 1997 for the sake of the NHS would not do so this time around.

A survey by The Times newspaper, which contacted 52 of the 59 doctors who signed a letter of support for Tony Blair on the eve of the 1997 general election, found that only 17 would publicly support Labour again in the same way.

Sixteen of the doctors contacted stated that they would vote Labour on May 5, but 15 said they would be voting for another party.

In their 1997 letter the doctors said Labour would protect the NHS, but many are thought to be disillusioned with the Government’s agenda.