PRIVATEERS vying for a massive £1 billion NHS sell-off hid behind a veil of secrecy yesterday after health service bosses refused to publish the list of bidders.

A host of profit-hungry firms including US weapons giant Lockheed Martin and disgraced outsourcers G4S and Serco were known to be in the running for the huge primary care deal.

They were among 21 companies which attended a secret meeting to “express interest” in the contract.
Also in attendance was KPMG, which recently hired Tory MP Stephen Dorrell — until recently chair of the Commons health select committee.