Promised Brexit cash could pay for hospital

Last week a triumphant Mr Penning welcomed the referendum vote which will see the UK quit the European Union.

But the official Brexit campaign promised that leaving the EU would save Britain £350million a week which could be spent on the EU – and he is now being called in on the pledge.

The petition says: “Hemel Hempstead hospital has been downgraded for many years and patients are forced to 
travel to Watford.

“Conservative-controlled Herts County Council had the chance to object to the 
decision to downgrade the hospital and refer the 
decision to the Secretary of State, but they chose not to.

“Mike Penning MP has made the hospital an 
electoral issue in every 
election since 2005 but 
nothing has changed. He didn’t openly campaign for Leave 
but he said that leaving the EU would be better for Britain.”

Although Hemel Hempstead has a hospital it lost its A&E department in 2009, forcing patients to head to Watford in an emergency.

The facilities at Watford – and the difficulty of getting 
there – have long been 
criticised by patients.

A new campaign began this year, calling on health bosses to build a new hospital, 
equidistant from Hemel, St 
Albans and Watford.

Mr Penning said that he welcomed anything which would boost the chances of a new hospital.

He added: “It’s lovely if 
Labour have suddenly started taking an interest in the hospital that they closed. And I’d welcome money from any source if it would provide us with a new hospital for West Herts. We want the hospital that the people of Dacorum deserve.

“What’s obvious is that leaving the EU means there will be more money for the Chancellor to spend here rather than sending abroad.”