Labour councillors were left red-faced last Thursday after their NHS claims were exposed as rubbish by the Liberal Democrats.

Labour members accused the Coalition Government of cutting funds to the NHS in Redcar & Cleveland by £4.9 million this year.

However, Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale produced Department of Health figures which show that Redcar & Cleveland NHS Trust is getting nearly £7 million more from the Government this year.

This contrasts with the Labour-run Welsh Assembly, which is cutting the NHS budget there by more than 5%.

Cllr Glyn Nightingale said:

“This Government is increasing funding to the NHS. Labour may think that if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it, but I think local people will see through this.”

“Bizarrely, Labour seem to oppose more money for health. In Wales they are slashing funding, and former Labour minister Andy Burnham has called it “irresponsible” to increase NHS spending in real terms.”