WRONG, wrong, wrong was the response from Dr Richard Taylor after Michael Howard accused him of making promises he could not keep over Kidderminster Hospital.

The MP for Wyre Forest said he never gave assurances to the public that he would return services to the hospital, which was heavily downgraded nine months before his historic victory in 2001.

Dr Taylor said: "Mr Howard has been misinformed.

"I never made a promise to restore services to Kidderminster because I knew that wasn't within my power.

"What I did promise was to fight as hard as I could to get services back and this is what I have done."

The Tory leader had questioned whether Dr Taylor would have a "platform" at the next election, expected in 2005.

Yet Dr Taylor said: "Our battle goes on until we get something better than we have now."

He said of the Tories: "For them to fight an election on the hospital is quite misguided because everybody knows that many of the values of the health service started under the Tories, for example the internal market."

Michael's Howard's warning shot to Dr Taylor was speculative as the 69-year-old MP has yet to announce whether he will contest his seat.

He said: "I am keeping that very close to my chest and I will let people know at the last minute."