UKIP Isle of Wight Parliamentary candidate Iain McKie has spoken out after receiving a solicitor’s letter sent on behalf of Andrew Turner threatening legal action against him, with news of the letter coming to light during last night’s hustings event in Sandown.
The threat from Turner came following revelations by McKie (received by him from an anonymous whistle-blower) that Turner had failed to disclose a health episode in 2014.
Since Iain McKie received the anonymous e-mail and made public its contents, Andrew Turner has gone on the record admitting he suffered a bout of ill-health last summer, and followed medical advice instructing him not to drive as a result.
Andrew told Island Echo that he has had no serious health issues since his stroke in 2006, however felt unwell one hot day last summer and was advised to go to hospital for a check up, where he stayed overnight for observation as he was alone in London.
Mr Turner has faced questions on his capability from a number of candidates and from members of his own Party. Isle of Wight Conservative Association chairman Alan Wells’ addressed Turner’s health problems at the Annual General Meeting in March 2015, revealing a concealed ‘health episode’ in the past year and casting doubt over Turner’s ability to “embark both on a grueling election campaign and then enter into a further term at Westminster, during which his health and reputation will surely be under intense pressure.”
Mr McKie, a front-runner in next month’s General Election, remains resolute in his insistence that he has done nothing to warrant legal action being taken, stating that it is reasonable to expect an MP to be transparent about their health with the voting public.
The lawyer’s letter included a demand for a formal apology, with a deadline of Friday 17th April. Iain says he has chosen to ignore this deadline, making clear he will not be intimidated or silenced by a fellow candidate’s ‘scare tactics’.
Andrew last week said:
“It is a pity that Mr McKie feels the need to smear other candidates rather than concentrating on his own campaign”.
