Skinner given cancer all-clear

Mr Skinner is full of praise for the NHS

Veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner has been given the all-clear from cancer, he told MPs in the House of Commons.

He praised the NHS and said his doctor had given him the good news at Chelsea Royal Hospital on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Mr Skinner, MP for Bolsover since 1970, under-went a double heart by-pass operation.

The 71-year old is a popular orator, but at times has been a thorn in the side of successive Labour leaders, particularly recently on Iraq.

The issue of his health came up as Mr Skinner told MPs that many of his colleagues were involved in Labour's "big conversation" - the party's appeal to voters to give their views on future challenges.

The doctor said to me ... you've no need to come now for another 12 months Dennis Skinner

"I've been engaged this morning at Chelsea Royal Hospital and I've got some good news," he told the Commons.

"The Chelsea Royal Hospital are so good that the doctor said to me when I want for my cancer check-up this morning at eight o'clock: 'I've got a Christmas present for you. I know you're engaged in a 'big conversation' - I've got some news for you.

'Brilliant'

"You've no need to come now for another 12 months'."

Heaping praise on the NHS, he stressed: "That's the best conversation and the health service is doing so well that it's helping to cure me of cancer.

"It's got me a new United Nations heart - I can't go wrong with the health service."

Commons leader Peter Hain said he looked forward "to having many such great conversations" with Mr Skinner, who he described as "a brilliant exponent of all sorts of big conversations".

He said all people who use the health service "overwhelmingly find it an excellent health service" with "fantastic support" from nurses, doctors and consultants.

"I'm glad that you've been able to praise them," he added.