Tories say Labour candidate clearly violated NHS rules over Keir Starmer visit | Politics | News [Video]

Labour’s candidate for the East Midlands Mayoralty is under mounting pressure today after she was referred to her employer for potentially breaching NHS rules during the election.

Claire Ward supposedly abused her position as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Kings Mill Hospital in Ashfield, when recently hosting Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting for a campaigning even on April 8.

A letter sent by the NHS’ Chief Strategy Officer just days before the event took place, however, warned against using the health service for political purposes.

The memo by Chris Hopson warned about the importance of “maintaining public confidence in the NHS during pre-election periods”.

It also stressed that the NHS must not “influence election campaigns”, while underlining the Nolan Principles on public life, and the need to separate political activities from an individual’s NHS role.

Mr Hopson also made clear that when an individual has a high profile “because of …