Welsh Labour told to follow Lamont

Dec 7 2012

A Conservative Assembly Member has appeared to mock bitter rivals Welsh Labour - after saying the party should follow its Scottish counterparts in supporting a Tory health policy.

The Welsh Government has repeatedly vowed to uphold its free-prescriptions for all scheme as well as rejecting calls to set up a dedicated cancer drugs fund.

But Tory AM Darren Millar drew attention to Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont's recent comments on the two issues.

Miss Lamont labelled access to cancer drugs a "postcode lottery" because of the absence of a specialist fund there - as well as criticising the Scottish Government's free prescriptions policy.

Clwyd West AM Mr Millar said her comments mirrored those of Welsh Conservatives.

"Yet again Johann Lamont has shown her Welsh Labour colleagues the way forward," he added.

"Her support for our policies on the NHS makes perfect sense and I urge her to convince Labour in Wales.

"It is not fair millionaires can pick up free paracetamol when it's available for pennies in their local shop.

"The money saved by axing this waste would go towards a cancer treatments fund, as Johann suggests.

"We want to see an end to this wholly unfair postcode lottery and any new Welsh Government fund must include better access to drugs."