Former Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor dies

Dr Richard Taylor, a former impartial MP who campaigned to protect hospital companies in Worcestershire, has died on the age of 89.

A retired hospital advisor, Dr Taylor stood for election in 2001 on the one problem of saving companies at Kidderminster Hospital.

He was profitable in successful the Wyre Forest seat from Labour with a majority of 18,000, holding it in 2005 earlier than shedding to the Conservatives in 2010.

He went on to co-found The Nationwide Well being Motion Social gathering, to encourage others within the medical occupation to enter politics.

“It is a unhappy loss to the group of Wyre Forest,” mentioned Graham Ballinger, former chief of the Wyre Forest’s Unbiased Group and Well being Concern get together, of which Dr Taylor was president till his loss of life on Wednesday.

“He stood up for the rights of the hospital and labored so arduous.

“Folks nonetheless speak about him on the doorstep now. He was a splendidly trustworthy man: what he mentioned, he did.”

Dr Taylor’s first marketing campaign was based mostly on the only problem of stopping the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital and demanding the re-opening of its accident and emergency division.

His electoral success made him the one impartial MP within the Home of Commons on the time.

Talking after his victory in 2001, he pledged to not let down his constituents.

“I feel probably the most staggering factor this morning is that the chief government of the belief and one of many essential administrators of the belief have shaken my hand,” he mentioned again then.

“I have been persona non grata for three-and-a-half years and already they need to speak to me.”

Dr Taylor died just a few days away from his ninetieth birthday.

“I do know the entire group might be devastated,” mentioned Mr Ballinger.

“He fought to his dying day, actually, for companies to be reinstated and plenty of have been. However to not the extent Richard would appreciated to have seen it.

“He was greater than a single problem MP. He cared about each problem affecting individuals’s lives within the Wyre Forest. That is why he was elected for a second time period.”