IT was a schoolboys' reunion for Dr Richard Taylor when independent MP Martin Bell joined satirical star John Fortune to boost his campaign. Martin Bell, Richard Taylor and John Fortune outside Kidderminster Hospital.
Both Dr Taylor and the former foreign correspondent, who broke the modern political mould when he won the Tory seat of Tatton in the last election, are old boys of the Leys School, Cambridge.
However, it was anything but schoolboy humour as Mr Bell, wearing his trademark white suit, addressed about 500 people at Kidderminster Town Hall.
He hit back at criticism from Labour candidate David Lock for his refusal to meet district doctors before the rally.
Health Concern candidate Dr Taylor said: "Martin explained he was here at the invitation of Health Concern to talk about democracy not medical issues.
"He told how his role as an independent MP meant he was able to bypass party politics and represent people's needs without interference from the party machine and whips."
Meanwhile, John Fortune, of Bremner, Bird and Fortune fame came up with a new acronym for the health service.
He referred to how NICE - the National Institute for Clinical Excellence now had an opposite acronym NASTY - Not Available So Treat Yourself.
Dr Taylor said: "Unfortunately, this is a pretty accurate picture of the NHS in many parts of the country.
"However, it is not an accurate picture of how the NHS was in Kidderminster."
He added: "Martin and John went down very well. There was tremendous warmth and support at the meeting."
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