Ukip conference: Louise Bours’ shouty sermon on the NHS

Politicians always speak about the NHS with passion. It is our national religion. So today Louise Bours, Ukip’s health spokeswoman, adopted the demeanour of a Pentecostal preacher, addressing her party conference at such a high volume that MPs gathered in the House of Commons chamber could probably hear her as she pledged to work with Unite to oppose the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. She said she had received a letter from Len McCluskey outlining his concerns about the agreement, and replied:

‘UKIP WILL FIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU TO ENSURE THE NHS IS EXCLUDED FROM TTIP.’

This was an explicit attempt to quash Labour attacks on Ukip as a party that wants to restrict access to the health service. Bours also told the conference that ‘UKIP WILL ENSURE THAT THE NHS REMAINS FREE AT THE POINT OF ACCESS’ and attacked Labour and Tory ministers alike for failing on the NHS as she unveiled a raft of policies designed to address the ‘too posh to wash’ culture.