In LRC-CPPT, patients on cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant resin, had 20% lower LDL as compared to an 8% drop on placebo and, after seven years, had a 24% reduction in CV deaths versus placebo.

FORBES: Do We Really Need Head-To-Head Comparison Trials With Statins To Improve Cardiac Health?

Furthermore, landmark studies such as the Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial (LRC-CPPT) and the Scandanavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S) showed that lowering LDL cholesterol has the direct result of reducing cardiovascular (CV) deaths.

FORBES: Do We Really Need Head-To-Head Comparison Trials With Statins To Improve Cardiac Health?

In the words of one of their leaders, Christine Blowers, general secretary of the NUT, to the LRC meeting, she said she hoped it would be "the time for the sleeping giant of the trade union movement to wake up".

BBC: Labour conference: Left frustrated by 'Red Ed'