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Labour tonight accused the Tories of telling a 'bare-faced lie' that a Conservative aide was punched by Labour activist outside an NHS hospital.

The party accused the Conservatives of sinking to a "new low" to "distract" from a row over a four-year-old boy who was pictured sleeping on the floor of Leeds General Infirmary.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was met with angry protesters shouting "shame on you!" and "we do not want you in this country!" tonight when he left the hospital following a hastily-arranged visit.

Footage from the BBC showed an aide to Mr Hancock walked into a protester's arm - apparently by accident - as the activist, looking the other way, pointed at Mr Hancock's car.

However, before this footage became available, unconfirmed reports circulated that a Labour activist had punched the aide and even that someone had been arrested.

Tonight both ITV's and the BBC's political editors apologised for incorrect tweets airing the claims, which have since been deleted.

(Image: @BeyondThePast1)

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TV Political Editor Robert Peston tweeted: "It is completely clear from video footage that Matt Hancock's adviser was not whacked by a protestor, as I was told by senior Tories.

"But that he inadvertently walked into a protestor's hand. I apologise for getting this wrong."

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg added: "Happy to apologise for earlier confusion about the punch that wasn’t a punch outside Leeds General.

"2 sources suggested it had happened but clear from video that was wrong."

The Guardian tonight reported that the claims had come in a "briefing" from "Tory aides".

"Conservative sources claimed on Monday afternoon that the adviser to the health secretary had been hit by a protester," the Guardian reported.

"Aides initially briefed that Hancock’s adviser was 'punched in the face' and tried to point the finger at a Labour 'thug'."

The Mirror understands the incident erupted after the aide in question was unclear at first whether they had been hit deliberately.

The protester on a bicycle had been shouting: "Ten years of underfunding the system! We do not want you in this city. We do not want you in this country!"

It is thought the aide contacted bosses to say there had been an incident but took it no further. It is not clear if the miscommunication to journalists after this was deliberate or due to a misunderstanding.

A Labour spokeswoman declared: “The Tories are so desperate to distract from a four year old boy sleeping on a hospital floor because of their cuts to our NHS that they have resorted to bare faced lying.

“This is a new low and the Conservative Party has serious questions to answer.”

A West Yorkshire Police statement said: "We are aware of information circulating on social media in relation to an alleged incident involving election campaigners at Leeds General Infirmary this afternoon.

(Image: @BeyondThePast1)

"We are currently unaware of any reports to West Yorkshire Police of this nature but are seeking to verify."

The hastily-arranged visit came after we revealed Jack Williment-Barr - who had suspected pneumonia - was forced to lie on a pile of coats as he tried to sleep on the floor.

The photo prompted outrage with Jeremy Corbyn branding it a "disgrace" and Mr Hancock admitting: "It's not good enough and I've apologised".

But Mr Johnson stoked the furore as the took the phone of a journalist trying to show him the photo of little Jack - and put it in his pocket during a live interview.