Ex-health trust boss Gary Walker in Lincoln MP bid

The former chief executive of a Lincolnshire NHS trust is to stand as an independent candidate in the General Election.

Gary Walker is standing in Lincoln against Labour's Gillian Merron, public health minister under Gordon Brown.

Mr Walker was chief executive of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust from 2006 to 2010.

He said he wanted to stand as an independent as he thought people had had enough of party politics.

'Revived hospital'

Mr Walker said: "I will talk about health. I'll talk about some of the things that have happened because of targets.

"I'll talk about fair funding for health services in Lincoln and Lincolnshire.

"I don't think she'll [Gillian Merron] will be very happy about me standing.

"It's about the people deciding who they trust more and who they think will work for them."

Ms Merron said: "This election, people in Lincoln will have a clear choice about their future, the future of our city and who is best placed to tackle all of the big issues that affect our families, communities and the economy.

"Record levels of government investment has transformed healthcare in Lincoln.

"Our hospital is revived with new wards and equipment, there are more nurses and more doctors than ever before and we have the lowest waiting times since records began."

Conservative candidate Karl McCartney said: "Whilst of course welcoming Gary Walker as part of the democratic process... his track record for the people of Lincoln with particular reference to the recent closure of the Microbiology Laboratory is not impressive, as I campaigned to retain it.

"It will be interesting for other candidates.

"I am sure to note the issues that Gary might tease out of the current Labour health minister and current Labour MP for Lincoln, Gillian Merron.

"I am sure the Labour government's target culture and the problems that Gary is well aware of will be suitably aired."

Liberal Democrat candidate Reg Shore said: "Good luck to him.

"He is clearly annoyed with the attitude of the government compromising him with their targets.

"It's the micro-mismanagement that the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against for years.

"It is important to note that the Tories will be no better as they went down that road a long time ago."