The focus on new health care plan is dividing the Socialist Party, the Algemeen Dagblad reported on Wednesday.

With just a few months until the general election a group of anonymous SP MPs have contacted the paper to express their doubts about Emile Roemer’s leadership, his alleged single-minded focus on health care and the lack of attention for issues such as national security and integration which the MPs claim ‘could attract new voters’.

In 2012, support for the SP fell sharply and the party tumbled from 38 to just 15 seats. According to the polls it currently stands at 11.

‘Conflicts are not being addressed. Roemer has not done any maintenance. Emile simply ducks. He is unable to lead the parliamentary party. He’s a nice guy but he won’t make it,’  one MP told the paper.

Another MP said Roemer’s  ‘image of reliability’ will not do the trick next year. ‘There are only a few people on the list who have the qualities to become MPs, the rest are pals of (SP parliamentary party chairman, DN) Ron Meyer’.

Meyer supports the SP health care plan of establishing a single health insurer and abolishing the own risk element, ‘a plan built on sand which is not going to win us the elections’, according to the complaining MPs.

When asked to comment Meyer said the party is not campaigning on health care alone, adding that ‘MPs have plenty of opportunities for campaigning and winning votes.’ Emile Roemer refused to comment saying he would not react to anonymous criticism.