Labour was accused yesterday of trying to smear David Cameron over his support for the NHS.

One of the Tory leader's closest allies lashed out after he was branded a "fraud" and "two-faced" by Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson.

Mr Cameron has been engaged in desperate damage limitation since his MEP Daniel Hannan went on US television to warn against copying the British health system, saying he "would not wish it on anybody".

The remarks were quickly dismissed by Mr Cameron as "eccentric", who cited his experience with his disabled son Ivan - who died in February - in stressing that his party stood "four square behind the NHS".

But one of Mr Hannan's Conservative colleagues in the European parliament, Roger Helmer, has expressed support for his position.

There have also been claims that senior Tory frontbenchers favour fundamental reform, and have close links with US politicians who have condemned the NHS as "evil" and "Orwellian".

Gordon Brown stepped up his attack in a letter to Labour Party members last night.

"It is understandable that the Conservative leadership have tried to distance themselves from those in Tory ranks who criticise the NHS," he wrote. "But the reason why their comments have generated so much anger is that they spoke to a larger truth.

"That truth is that there are two Tory faces on the NHS. Behind all the recent talk of commitment, the party has not truly been reformed."

Lord Mandelson said that Mr Cameron "likes people to think he's cuddly and compassionate and has a belief in social justice. He is fraudulent in two respects," the business secretary said. "He's different when he thinks people aren't listening or looking.

"And the sentiments he expresses in Britain are not shared by his party so there is a double fraud going on."

Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove hit back yesterday, saying Mr Cameron believed "heart and soul" in the principles of the health service because of his "life experience" with Ivan.

"I think Labour, because they are ruffled, are trying to concoct a series of stories to smear David," he said.