A PROSPECTIVE MP has promised to save a Hampshire hospital from the axe if he is elected to Parliament.

In his campaign leaflet, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Gosport, Dr Richard Williams, claimed he would save Royal Hospital Haslar if he was elected.

He wrote: "I guarantee that I will save Haslar Hospital and provide it with a long-term and sustainable future. The people of the constituency will be able to judge me on this commitment."

The claim has enraged other PPCs, who branded it "silly" and "insulting".

Royal Hospital Haslar, in Gosport, is due to close in May 2007, when all surgery and operations will move to the rebuilt Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

The recent decision to shut it sparked outrage in the community, with thousands of residents joining a campaign to save it.

Dr Williams, the managing director of a computer consultancy firm, said he was willing to put his political career on the line if he failed.

"My track record with health ministers is second to none," he said.

"I've been involved in trying to save Haslar for I don't know how long. I've arranged meetings on a number of issues and, because of this, I've had some great results.

"I genuinely believe I can get the message across and am absolutely convinced I can make a difference. If I fail I will stand down. I am prepared to give up my political future over this issue, so I have not made this statement idly or irresponsibly."

Peter Viggers, the Conservative PPC, said Dr Williams was insulting the people of Gosport.

He said: "It's insulting to the intelligence of the people of Gosport to give them promises like this. Tony Blair has a poor reputation for trust and it looks like Dr Williams is following in his master's footsteps. No one is in a position to promise funding for a local project like this. I don't think the people of Gosport will be taken in by his claims."

Roger Roberts, the Lib Dem PPC for Gosport, said the hospital needed to be saved but that Dr Williams was going about it the wrong way.

He said: "At the last election I said the debate over the hospital was becoming a political football. There does need to be a hospital on the peninsula but Dr Williams is trying to portray himself as a knight in shining armour.

"I don't think any of the candidates can put their hand on their heart and say they'll save the hospital. It's silly to give residents hope when there are a lot of unresolved issues to be cleared up."

John Bowles, of the UK Independence Party, said Dr Williams was offering voters "empty promises".

"I really don't know how he is going to achieve this, unless it is already a done deal with the government. He is bribing voters with empty promises," he said.