LABOUR’S leadership suffered a major embarrassment today when leftwingers swept the board in elections to the party’s health affiliate on a platform of ending private-sector involvement in the NHS.

Despite right-wing efforts to take back control, campaigners backed by grassroots group Momentum eventually stood unopposed and won re-election to the posts of chairperson, secretary and treasurer of the Socialist Health Association (SHA).

The association, which serves as Labour’s main campaigning body on health, has been affiliated to the party for more than 90 years and retains nominating rights for MPs and the party leadership.