The last ditch bid to save Chase Farm Hospital has been praised by the political rivals who are set to battle each other for the same job.

The under threat medical centre is in the Enfield North constituency, currently held by Joan Ryan MP for New Labour.

But she faces a fight for the seat against Conservative candidate Nick De Bois at the next general election.

Some Whitehall insiders predict it could be held as soon as next summer.

Come polling day, Chase Farm hospital is certain to be a political hot potato, because of the passions it arouses in the residents whose votes will be vigourously chased in the campaign.

But for now, Mrs Ryan and Mr De Bois have each praised Enfield Council for seeking a £500,000 judicial review into Enfield Primary Care Trust’s plan to downgrade casualty and maternity services at the hospital, in the Ridgeway.

The decision to proceed was a change of heart after the council’s own legal team had ruled out the High Court. But now Mrs Ryan joins the massed ranks of Enfield residents who oppose the plans of her own government.

Mrs Ryan herself has been accused of performing a u-turn, after being reported as dismissing a judicial review as a waste of money.

She said: “Like the Leader of the council, my concern is that taxpayers’ money must be spent wisely. If the council has now received positive legal advice that it will get a judicial review, then we should continue to fight for even better facilities for Chase Farm.

“If the council is confident of this further legal advice, especially regarding the nature of the consultation process, it should go ahead and I will support that position.”

Tory Nick De Bois, of the Hands Off Our Hospital campaign, gave a well received speech in favour of a judicial review at the land-mark cabinet meeting on November 26. The council became the first authority to seek a judicial review over health reforms.

He claims to have gathered 12,000 signatures against the plans to cut casualty and downgrade maternity services.

Mr De Bois said: “I’m delighted this decision has been taken. It’s definitely the right thing to do because of the massive amount of public feeling on the streets, at public meetings and expressed in petitions. The council is right to challenge it.

“We have won the argument in the court of public opinion and now we do the same in the High Court.”

A judge will rule on whether to send the Chase Farm plans to a judicial review in four to six months.