THE Conservative Party has furiously denied suggestions that Oliver Letwin told a Sunday newspaper that there would be “no limit” on the use of private contractors in the NHS.

The Tory policy chief told The Sunday Times that his party would carry forward the reforms introduced by Labour and end the culture of targets and directives which, he claimed, made staff feel “appalling and lousy”.

The newspaper reported that Mr Letwin said there would be “no limit” on the use of private contractors – but the Conservative Party issued a statement denying that he had made the remark. However, two BBC journalists, including Jon Sopel, the presenter, listened to the tape independently and said that they heard him use the words “no limit”.

The Times has heard a tape made by Mr Letwin’s aide and the one made by the journalist, but was unable to determine what was said.

In the same interview, Mr Letwin insisted that a future Conservative government would not introduce insurance-based healthcare.

He said: “No, absolutely not, that’s not the way we are going to go. One of the very first things David [Cameron] said was we are committed to the ideals of the NHS as a tax-based service.”

However, Mr Letwin did say that GPs and primary care trusts would need to buy from a “wide range of sources”.

He continued: “We need to give back to doctors and nurses the ability to get on with the job and also treat them properly, as professionals.”

On any future role of private companies within the NHS, he said: “If people can provide services under the NHS, which are good services, be they social enterprises or private bodies or NHS foundation trusts, whatever they are, if they can provide good services, if they can satisfy the commissioners within the NHS that the best way to buy the best services for their patients is them, they should have the chance to be part of the show.”

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