THE sight of Richard Taylor being called to speak in a health debate is usually greeted with a heavy sigh on the Labour benches.

He famously polished off junior minister David Lock at the last General Election and has since built a reputation for being a thorn in the Government's side.

So Labour MPs could not control their glee when Dr Taylor dished out some rather unexpected praise.

Speaking in a debate on foundation hospitals, he said: "One must admit that the Government have achieved tremendous improvements in the NHS already."

Afterwards, one delighted Labour MP told me: "I think we'll be seeing that quote again - in a Labour party newsletter or some election literature."

Dr Taylor had opened his speech in self-effacing style, saying he would never have become an MP if Ministers had not downgraded Kidderminster Hospital.

Chewing over whether he would have backed plans for Kidderminster to become a foundation trust, he said: "I have to examine my conscience. If there were still a hospital trust in my constituency, I could well be speaking on the other side of the argument.

"The trust that was in my constituency was a high-performing trust, which would have seen the undoubted advantages of foundation status.

"I do not have to examine my conscience very hard, however, because if the hospital trust were still in my constituency I would not be here.

"I would be on one of the gorgeous Worcestershire wildlife trust reserves, observing the first two avocets that are attempting to raise a family on an English lake."

Normal service was resumed, however. Dr Taylor voted against the proposals for foundation trusts.

He argued the Government was rushing them through - and should concentrate on implementing the initiatives it had put in place first.