CANDIDATES fighting the Rochester and Strood by-election were challenged yesterday to commit to voting against NHS privatisation if they are elected latest this month.

A vote on rolling back Tory competition rules will be held in Parliament within hours of the election count’s conclusion.

And Labour called on all candidates to confirm they would make their first act as MP to support their efforts to reverse the effects of the hated Health and Social Care Act.

Laying down the challenge on a visit to the constituency yesterday, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said voters have a right to know “whether their next MP will come straight to the Commons and vote to halt the privatisation of the NHS.”

The private members bill proposed by Labour MP Clive Efford will be heard on Friday November 21.

If passed, it would end the compulsory tendering process for all NHS contracts, stop hospitals making up to half of their cash through private procedures and exempt the NHS from further privatisation through the secretive EU-US trade deal.

The Star reported on Saturday how a poll showed the NHS — not immigration — was the top concern of voters in the constituency.

And Labour candidate Naushabah Khan said:“People are right to be worried because our NHS is being torn apart before our eyes — healthcare should never be about profits. That is why I would support the Bill and I urge other candidates to pledge to do the same.”

The latest poll put Ukip candidate Mark Reckless 15 per cent ahead of the Tory party he defected from.