Wood and Sturgeon keep Farage on his toes during leaders’ debate

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood bit back at Nigel Farage on tonight’s live debate telling him he should be “ashamed” about his comments on health tourism in the UK.

In a discussion on the NHS, Farage attacked health tourism and the amount of people coming to the country for treatment of AIDS.

Wood, who had at first been quiet in the debate, boldly confronted Farage on the subject.

Farage said 60% of people diagnosed HIV positive in the UK are foreign nationals, but with the drugs costing up to £25,000 a year, the UKIP leader emphasised that the NHS should be there for British people.

Biting at this, Wood said Farage should be “ashamed” of what he’d said. She found support from the audience who applauded her.

While Farage fought to argue back, the Plaid leader was supported by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon who jumped in saying: “I think health care should be available for everyone, regardless of race.”

Wood and Sturgeon, alongside Green Party leader Natalie Bennett were fiercely united throughout the debate. The move comes days after all three women launched their campaigns and “opposed austerity”. A union they announced last year.

At a meeting to discuss a possible future coalition government last December, the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon, the Green party’s Natalie Bennett and Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood said this May election could be an opportunity to change politics and “battle the Westminster parties’ obsession with austerity”.

All three parties have ruled out a coalition with the Conservatives.