HEALTH Secretary Frank Dobson has been accused of "political bias" over the replacement of ex-Pendle Tory MP John Lee as chairman of the North West's world famous Christie cancer hospital.

After a five-month wait since his term of office officially finished, Mr Lee has been told his contract will not be renewed, leading Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans to claim he has been dropped because of his Tory connections.

He will be replaced by Blackburn-born Arthur Sandford, 57.

Mr Sandford was chief executive of the Football League from 1990 to 1992 before holding the same post for Manchester City Council from then to 1998.

He was brought up in Blackburn and attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.

Although Mr Sandford has no political affiliations, Mr Evans is convinced that Mr Lee's failure to be reappointed to the £17,000 a year job is to do with his past as a Tory MP and mInister.

He said: "This is shocking. John has done a superb job. Many people will suspect that he has not been reappointed for political reasons. "This is part of a continuing effort to get rid of people appointed under the previous government and replace them, irrespective of how good a job they were doing."

A spokesman for the NHS Executive in the North West said:"This was not a political appointment.

"It was question of ministers choosing the candidate who would give the strongest leadership to Christie."

"John Lee did an excellent job.

"He was one of several very strong candidates for the job who was still in the frame till last week."

Mr Lee, the former Pendle MP who quit as a Government Minister to fight the poll tax because of the damage it did to East Lancashire, had been chairman the the Christie trusts for six years.

He said: "It has been a great privilege to be chairman of the Christie and lead a first class team."

Christie Chief Executive Mike Fry said: "John Lee has been a superb chairman and brought a great deal of expertise and energy to the job. The Christie hospital has benefitted greatly for his efforts."

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