I read your report about the pledge candidates are being invited to sign about the NHS. Sadly you have misquoted me.

There are negotiations taking place over an international trade agreement, TTIP for short. Some believe TTIP will open the NHS up to privatisation. If it did I would oppose it.

The Government has been clear TTIP will have no impact on the NHS. The point I tried to make to your reporter was that decisions about how public services are run are for our Parliament, not international trade agreements.

When it comes to the use of the private sector in the NHS during the last Labour Government it rose to 4.9 per cent of the NHS budget. Since 2010 it has risen a further 1.2 per cent.

I am passionate about the NHS and committed to its founding principle that it is tax funded and free on the basis of need.

It is why Lib Dems have worked hard in Government to protect NHS funding and secure an extra £2bn from this April.

I was born at St Helier, my children were too. I have and will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with residents defending our hospital.

PAUL BURSTOW
Member of Parliament for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park