Sussex MPs have backed Cabinet minister Hazel Blears in her protest against hospital closures and downgrades.

The Labour Party chairwoman has been labelled a hypocrite for joining a picket line outside Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester.

She was protesting against thye closure of its baby unit - despite her Government working to downgrade or close units elsewhere, including Sussex.

Campaigners from Health Emergency accused Ms Blears of riding on the back of local protests while being complicit in Government policies which have resulted in hospital cuts.

But the Conservative MP for Bognor Nick Gibb said: "Hazel Blears is absolutely right to protest on this issue because the Government should not be closing or downgrading hospitals.

"It is very pleasing we have an ally now in Government who clearly agrees with us.

"All the MPs in Sussex are backing each others' campaigns to protect hospitals and I would be delighted to back Hazel Blears.

"I would love it if she came down here to our hospitals and I would be only too delighted to go to Salford to see hers."

St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, Worthing Hospital, Southlands in Shoreham, Conquest Hospital in Hastings and Eastbourne District General Hospital are all under threat from majors cuts.

However, the Conservative MP for East Worthing Tim Loughton said: "Clearly there is a serious problem when the chairman of the Labour party is demonstrating against her own Government's policies.

"This shows the crisis in the health service is not only a local complaint by opposition MPs but a problem that is affecting everybody."

Worthing MP Peter Bottomley backed Ms Blears' right to represent her constituency over the issue.

But he called on her to visit Worthing Hospital and other Sussex hospitals in Conservative constituencies to engage in a "full public debate".

The Labour MP for Hastings Michael Foster backed Ms Blears but said the overall policy of making savings within the NHS was correct.

However, he said the decision on which hospital services should be closed or downgraded should not be made by "unelected quangos" such as trusts or health authorities.

Mr Foster said: "I can understand her frustration and anger at the system because the decisions should be being made through democratic means."

Asked if she thought her position was tenable, Ms Blears said: "I do, because otherwise you would be saying to every minister in this country that you do not have a role in representing the people who elected you.

"Our system is that every MP is responsible to their constituents."