THE Green Party would abolish prescription charges as part of a drive to make the NHS genuinely free at the point of use, co-leader Caroline Lucas has said.

The Brighton Pavilion candidate believes the £8.60 charge in England is forcing some people to choose between food and medication, as she accuses the Government of charging people for being ill.

The charges have already been scrapped in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Launching the party’s policy in Bristol today, Ms Lucas said: “Every day this Government is fining people for falling sick by charging for prescriptions.

“GPs have warned that prescription charges force some patients to choose between spending their earnings on food or essential medical treatment.

“This is not acceptable.

“It’s also a false economy because not taking prescribed medication can cause people to miss work and lead to additional GP or hospital appointments.”

A three-month prescription is currently worth £29.10, while a yearly scheme costs £104.

Scrapping prescription charges would cost an estimated £550 million every year.

The Greens say they would pay for this by getting rid of the NHS internal market, which the Centre for Health and the Public Interest has said could save £4.5 billion on things like procurement.

Other senior figures in the party, such as co-leader Jonathan Bartley and former leader Natalie Bennett, are giving a series of speeches across the UK calling for a shift in Britain’s political climate and more of a focus on the environment.

Meanwhile, a TV showdown between the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has been postponed in response to the London Bridge terror attack.

National campaigning was suspended by all major parties, except Ukip, in the wake of the atrocity, with the broadcaster announcing plans to shift its Question Time Leaders Special to today – just days before Thursday’s election.

It is the second time that campaigning has been paused as parties agreed to put electioneering efforts on hold for three days after the Manchester bombing.

A number of leaders’ interviews with the BBC’s Andrew Neil were postponed during this time, including his clash with Mr Farron.

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have already faced a grilling from the Question Time audience.