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UKIP outflanking us, says Tory MP

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David Tredinnick has outlined an unlikely new battlefield in the struggle between the Tories and UKIP – herbal medicines.

While many Conservatives fear UKIP's challenge on issues such as Europe and equal marriage, the Bosworth MP has written to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt saying the Tories were being "again" out-positioned by the UKIP on homeopathy.

Last month, Mr Tredinnick sent Mr Hunt part of a 2010 UKIP health policy statement saying that the party would allow any doctor or herbal and traditional medicine practitioners to prescribe herbal medicines.

The MP has been calling for the same measure, if the practitioners are properly qualified, and for the statutory regulation of homeopathy. He says Britain is lagging behind Europe in adopting homeopathic medication.

However, critics of herbal medicines say their benefits are unproven.

In his letter dated April 24, leaked to the Leicester Mercury, Mr Tredinnick told Mr Hunt: "The position UKIP has taken is one with which most of our Daily Mail-reading supporters would agree.

"At a time when 70 per cent of the adult population have (sic) employed complementary medicine, often when they have not found relief through conventional medicine, it is tiresome to see UKIP again out-positioning our party at a time when we can ill afford to lose votes."

Mr Tredinnick told the Mercury he was disappointed his letter had been leaked, but that he stood by what he said in it.

He said: "It was not a secret letter but it was an internal one I wrote, from one Conservative to another, saying, 'Come on guys, another party is moving into an area where we should not be losing ground'.

"It should not have been leaked, but I stand by every word I said. I am happy it is in the public domain."

The NHS says on its website: "There is no good-quality evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition.

"The Department of Health does not maintain a position on any particular complementary or alternative therapy, including homeopathy. It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any healthcare treatments for NHS patients, such as homeopathy, taking account of issues to do with safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness and the availability of suitably qualified practitioners.

"Homeopathy is not available on the NHS in all areas of the country, but there are several NHS homeopathic hospitals and some GP practices which also offer homeopathic treatment."

Mr Tredinnick, who has not yet had a reply from Mr Hunt, said he wanted qualified practitioners to be able to legally prescribe herbal medicines.

He said: "At a point where people are getting worried about the overuse of antibiotics, this is an issue I feel is important.

"Opposition to homeopathy here is completely out of line with the rest of Europe."

UKIP Leicestershire county councillor David Sprason said: "That letter suggests that UKIP is really getting under the skin of the Tories and their MPs are increasingly frustrated with the party leadership.

"Herbal medicines do work. A lot of people realise that so we support their use because it is common sense. The Conservatives are being blown off course.

"Their supporters are thinking, more and more, that UKIP now better represents their views on Europe, immigration, equal marriage and many other issues."

UKIP outflanking us, says Tory MP


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