Ukraine volunteer claims MP stole idea to donate ventilators - to divert them to Cuba

Ukraine volunteer claims MP stole idea to donate ventilators - to divert them to Cuba30 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDavid DeansWales political reporterBBCSteve Eccleshall claims MP Steve Witherden plagiarised a letter he wrote to him asking for help sending ventilators to UkraineA retired policeman who says he wanted to help send British ventilators to Ukraine has accused an MP of stealing his idea so they can instead be sent to Cuba.Steve Eccleshall says he wrote to Labour's Steve Witherden to ask for help to secure the release of 40 unused ventilators from Wrexham Maelor Hospital.But a letter from Witherden dated three days after Eccleshall's request appears to show the MP making a similar request to Wrexham's health board - but asking that the machines be donated to the Caribbean nation.Some of the passages in the two letters make the same points, and Eccleshall has accused Witherden of plagiarising him.Witherden has not returned requests for comment.What are ventilators and how do they work?Twin town sends sixth ambulance to UkraineEccleshall is a volunteer with Driving Ukraine, a charity which delivers vehicles and equipment to the country, where he is currently working.In a complaint to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Eccleshall said he met the Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr MP as well as then-Welsh Parliament member Russell George on 6 February, near the Welsh border in Powys.He said at a meeting, which included members of Bausley with Criggion Community Council where Eccleshall is also a clerk, he presented Witherden and George with his letter, explaining that he was seeking the release of about 40 ventilators.He said the ventilators had been provided during the Covid pandemic, but because of compatibility problems had never been used.The retired policeman said Witherden shook his hand and congratulated him on taking aid to Ukraine, offering to see what he could do.But the volunteer subsequently learned that Witherden...