The Labour Lord who penned a paper calling for patients to pay for the NHS is an adviser to health privateers, health union Unite revealed yesterday.

Labour ex-health minister Lord Warner wrote the report for right-wing think thank Reform suggesting a “membership scheme” should be introduced into the NHS at a fee of £10 month.

Unite said that if the proposals went through, there would be a clear “conflict of interest” given that Lord Warner has several connections within the private care industry.