KEIGHLEY'S Tory parliamentary candidate has praised Airedale Hospital.

Kris Hopkins was speaking after the Prime Minister pledged the Conservatives would commit at least £8 billion more NHS funding per year by 2020.

"The Government has increased spending on the NHS by more than £7 billion in real terms over five years," said Mr Hopkins, who was Keighley MP until the dissolution of parliament last month.

"As a result, Airedale is rightly regarded as an outstanding hospital and has recently opened the doors of its state-of-the-art £6.3 million Accident and Emergency Unit.

"The people of Keighley and Ilkley have benefited directly from the improvements we have made to the NHS and, over the past five years, I’ve been proud to make the case for them."

He also welcomed his party's 83-page manifesto, whose commitments he said included taking workers on the minimum wage out of income tax, doubling free childcare to 30 hours per week and giving more people the chance to own their own home.

"Our manifesto represents the next stage in the Conservative plan to leave the dark times of Labour behind us and move on to brighter days ahead," he added.

Mr Hopkins this week hit out over comments made about a note left for a colleague five years ago.

In the missive to his Conservative successor at the 2010 General Election, Liam Byrne – Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the last Labour Government – wrote: "I'm afraid there is no money. With kind regards – and good luck! Liam."

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has dismissed the note as "jokey".

But Mr Hopkins said: "I am sickened by Ed Balls' comments, although not in the least bit surprised."