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Boris Johnson promised not to close down an A&E department - before the pledge was broken minutes later in an awkward on-stage gaffe.

Speaking on stage at the Telford International Centre, the Prime Minister said: "I'm looking at Matt Hancock here because I know that we have kept the A&E open and we will ensure that it is open and I will absolutely insist on that and I know that Matt will be very happy to give you more details afterwards.

"We will certainly make sure that the A&E in Telford is kept open."

However, this was almost immediately contradicted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who confirmed the A&E would in fact be closing and will be replaced by an A&E Local - only operating during 'core hours'.

(Image: Tom Nicholson/REX)

The changes fall under the Future Fit plans - which Hancock gave approval to last month and said would be going ahead, reports the Shropshire Star.

Johnson's gaffe comes two weeks after Corbyn slammed Tory plans for the hospital, saying an A&E Local was "not a proper A&E."

Telford MP Lucy Allan has been crowdfunding to launch a judicial review of the decision.

As part of their manifesto, the Conservatives promise 40 new hospitals - many of which do not have guaranteed funding or are rebuilds.

(Image: Tom Nicholson/REX) (Image: REUTERS)

Johnson's promise of 50,000 new nurses for the NHS has also been criticised for including 18,500 existing NHS nurses.

Labour branded the claim "deceitful."

The party also announced the return of maintenance grants, worth £5,000 to £8,000 a year for student nurses.

But there was no mention in the manifesto of help to pay for tuition fees.

Tory officials said the 50,000 figure would be made up of 14,000 new undergraduate student nurses and 5,000 degree apprenticeships.

(Image: REUTERS)

They will be supplemented by 12,500 nurses brought to the UK from abroad, making 31,000 'new' nurses.

The other 18,500, the party say, will be nurses who are 'retained' in the health service who would otherwise have left.

They said they had plans to keep nurses in the profession, including professional training, support and more childcare for returning mums.