UPDATED: Following the revelations last week about the turmoil within the Turner campaign, UKIP Isle of Wight Parliamentary Candidate Iain McKie has again been contacted by an anonymous whistle-blower close to the Isle of Wight Conservative Association with further explosive claims.
Iain (pictured left), a frontrunner in next month’s General Election, has today (Monday) said:
“Over the weekend I have received alarming reports that, if true, would amount to a fraud against the Isle of Wight electorate.
Article continues below this advertisement “I have been informed that during the summer of 2014 Andrew Turner suffered a ‘major health episode’ following which he was hospitalised at St Thomas’s in Westminster and subsequently banned from driving.
“We all know that Andrew has had difficulties with his health in the past and like all Islanders, I have nothing but good wishes for him on a personal level. However, I have been informed that the seriousness of Mr Turner’s ill health was deliberately concealed from the public.”
At a meeting of the Isle of Wight Conservative Association executive in January, at which a team from CCHQ led by Simon Mort was also present, the full extent of his illness was apparently revealed, according to the UKIP candidate.
According to reports, Alan Wells, Association Chairman at the time, had repeatedly pressed for disclosure of Andrew’s recent health issues, including to officers and to the executive council, and was frustrated that they had not been told at the time. However, the view was expressed by those close to Turner that there would be insufficient time for the Conservatives to put in place an alternative candidate and that the disclosure of the seriousness of Turner’s condition would severely damage his chances of re-election.
It was decided to re-select Turner and to keep the details of his health difficulties a secret until after the General Election – but news of the ‘major health episode’ were spread across the social networking site Twitter over the weekend.
After the decision was made to re-select Turner, Alan Wells felt compelled to stand down but made his views known at the subsequent AGM.
Iain McKie has made clear that he has no personal knowledge that these allegations are true, but confirmed that they have come from someone who had proved to be a “credible” source.
Iain continued:
“I am deeply concerned at the motivations of the people around Andrew Turner.
“I was at the Hustings organised by the IW Chamber last week and like most people who were there, I was upset and embarrassed by what I saw. Andrew was reduced to reading from notes or giving just one or two word answers. He was obviously confused and on more than one occasion the rest of us were unable to follow what was being said at all.
“But at the end of the day this election is not about Andrew Turner, it is about the Isle of Wight. The last five years have been difficult – the next five are likely to be tougher still. The Island needs an MP who can be a strong advocate in Westminster for its interests. Clearly those around him have their own agenda, but I think it is wrong that Andrew Turner appears to being used in this way”.
“Perhaps we have all been guilty of extending an excess of kindness and courtesy to Andrew Turner. Of course we all wish him well and these are very sensitive issues. I don’t blame Andrew for this situation, but clearly those around him have questions that must be answered. The Turner Campaign cannot go on hiding behind closed doors forever”.
UPDATE: Andrew Turner has today responded to Mr McKie’s claims and has 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.
Andrew said:
“It is a pity that Mr McKie feels the need to smear other candidates rather than concentrating on his own campaign.
“I am also somewhat surprised to hear that he is using an advertising agency to help him to do so.”
