A UNITE report that ‘exposes’ coalition members’ links with the private health sector is nothing more than a ‘smear campaign’, according to Winsford MP Steven O’Brien.

The new research, carried out by Unite, the UK’s largest trade union, found that 70 coalition MPs had links to private healthcare interests.

All of the MPs named in the report voted in favour of the coalition Government’s controversial Health and Social Care Act in 2012, which opened up the NHS to more private firms.

The dossier names Stephen O’Brien, MP for Eddisbury, as having received three payments totalling £40,000 from Julian Schild, whose family sold off hospital bed makers Huntleigh Technology for $184million in 2006.

“I am totally against any privatisation of the NHS,” Mr O’Brien said. “This Unite investigation is nothing more than a smear campaign to deceive the public.”

Mr O’Brien, who was the Shadow Minster for Health at the time, said Mr Schild donated the funds to help towards his research for his research into Labour’s doomed NHS IT projects.

He said: “Mr Julian provided money to help fund my research for my opposition against the failed £14billon that Labour squandered on a failed NHS IT system.

“When I received funding from Mr Schilds it was after he had sold the business, so he had nothing to do with the private health sector at that time.

“He chose to support me because he is Conservative thorough and through and believes in the vision we have for the future of this country. There’s no conflict on interests whatsoever.”

Mr O’Brien also points to the fact that all of the payments, and what they were used for, were all disclosed by him, displaying complete transparency.

He added: “These are nothing more than smear tactics from Unite and the Labour Party.”

Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary said: “From lobbying links to investments, and in some cases direct donations, it is clear that many MPs who supported the NHS sell-off are linked to the very private healthcare companies which stood to profit.

“It is time to scrap the health and social care act and save our NHS.”