RESIDENTS will have the chance to meet and greet the man who put the people’s health before party politics when Dr Richard Taylor comes to Redditch on June 5.
Dr Taylor, co-founder of the National Health Action Party (NHAP), will be in town to support his candidate, local man Neal Stote, the former chairman of the Save the Alex campaign and member of OurNHSWorcestershire.
The medical doctor broke the mould of British politics in 2001 when he stood as an independent in the then Labour held seat of Wyre Forest.
At the time he was chairman of the Kidderminster League of Friends and a member of the Save Kidderminster Hospital Campaign.
The Accident & Emergency department at the hospital had been closed in 2000 due to cutbacks and Dr Taylor swept to victory with a thumping majority.
He then successfully defended the seat at the 2005.
Dr Taylor subsequently lost his seat in the General Election of 2010 before coming fourth in the 2015.
Today Kidderminster Hospital, like the Alexandra in Redditch, is part of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and has a 24 hour nurse led minor injuries department treating more than 24,000 patients annually.
He said he believed Mr Stote has a real chance of success: “The NHS is of crucial importance to everyone, and especially with your local problems in Redditch.”
Dr Taylor will have a street stall outside the Ecumenical Centre off Evesham Walk in the town centre on June 5 from 10.30am to 11.30am to talk on the benefits of electing an independent MP and all are welcome to come and meet him.
The General Election is on Thursday, June 8. The candidates in the Redditch constituency are: Rebecca Blake (Labour), Susan Juned, (Liberal Democrat), Rachel Maclean, (Conservative), Neal Stote (National Health Action Party), Paul Swansborough (Ukip), Kevin White (Greens) and Sally Woodhall (Independent).
