DAVID Lock has warned the people of Wyre Forest that sending Dr Richard Taylor to Westminster could damage the chances of future Government investment in the district.

The sitting Labour MP feels Dr Taylor's intention to "kick up a fuss" about the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital in Parliament, if elected, signals a "very nave" attitude.

Mr Lock said: "By 'kicking up a fuss' he would isolate himself from the responsible politicians by showing that he is unwilling to work with anyone.

"And that means less chance of persuading those involved in Government to carry on investing in the futures of Wyre Forest's health service, schools, police and employment."

Declaring himself "sick and tired of the way in which prospective candidates are playing party politics over local health services in a scrabble for votes", Mr Lock urged district people to work together with the Worcestershire Acu-te Hospitals Trust.

And he pointed out that a statement by Dr Steve Booth, a senior consultant physician at Kidder-minster Hospital, in last week's Shuttle Times & News undermined Dr Taylor's claims that the downgrading has been carried out for financial reasons.

Mr Lock said: "If Richard Taylor keeps repeating his allegation that the changes were unnecessary and motivated only by financial interests and he knows no reason why they cannot be reversed, he is effectively saying that Dr Booth, the local GPs, all the other consultant physicians, the health authority, Government ministers and I are misleading the public."