Ukraine volunteer claims MP stole idea to donate ventilators - to divert them to Cuba
Key takeaways
- David Deans Wales political reporter BBCSteve Eccleshall claims MP Steve Witherden plagiarised a letter he wrote to him asking for help sending ventilators to Ukraine.
- Steve Eccleshall says he wrote to Labour's Steve Witherden to ask for help to secure the release of 40 unused ventilators from Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
- But a letter from Witherden dated three days after Eccleshall's request appears to show the MP making a similar request to Wrexham's health board - but asking that the machines be donated to the Caribbean nation.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
David Deans Wales political reporter BBCSteve Eccleshall claims MP Steve Witherden plagiarised a letter he wrote to him asking for help sending ventilators to Ukraine. A retired policeman who says he wanted to help send British ventilators to Ukraine has accused an MP of stealing his idea so they can instead be sent to Cuba.
Steve Eccleshall says he wrote to Labour's Steve Witherden to ask for help to secure the release of 40 unused ventilators from Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
But a letter from Witherden dated three days after Eccleshall's request appears to show the MP making a similar request to Wrexham's health board - but asking that the machines be donated to the Caribbean nation.