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Nick Clegg to oppose NHS competition regulator Nick Clegg to oppose NHS competition regulator
(about 1 hour later)
By James Landale Deputy political editor, BBC News Nick Clegg will oppose the idea of a regulator promoting competition in the health service in England, a key part of the government's plans for NHS reforms.
Nick Clegg will oppose the idea of a regulator promoting competition as part of NHS reforms, the BBC has learned. It places the deputy PM in opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who wants more competition to drive down prices.
It places him in opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who wants more competition to drive down prices. Mr Clegg also criticised David Cameron for declaring his love for the NHS while taking advice from people talking up the potential for private profits.
Addressing Lib Dem MPs and peers, Mr Clegg also criticised David Cameron for declaring his love for the NHS while taking advice from people talking up the potential for private profits.
The regulator Monitor already scrutinises hospital finances.The regulator Monitor already scrutinises hospital finances.
Mr Clegg's intervention marks an escalation in negotiations with his Conservative partners over the Health and Social Care Bill which is currently on hold. BBC deputy political editor James Landale said Mr Clegg's intervention, in a meeting with Lib Dem MPs and peers, marked an escalation in negotiations with his Conservative partners over the Health and Social Care Bill which is currently on hold.
It will also been seen as a rebuff to the prime minister who used his speech on Monday to try to assert his political authority and ownership over the changes being made to the bill. It will also be seen as a rebuff to the prime minister who used his speech on Monday to try to assert his political authority and ownership over the changes being made to the bill.
Addressing Lib Dem MPs and peers on Tuesday night, Mr Clegg agreed that Monitor should have a duty to push NHS collaboration rather than competition.Addressing Lib Dem MPs and peers on Tuesday night, Mr Clegg agreed that Monitor should have a duty to push NHS collaboration rather than competition.
'No mercy''No mercy'
He has signed off a policy document, obtained by the BBC, which states that Monitor should not be established as an "economic regulator" and should instead promote and protect the interests of the patient.He has signed off a policy document, obtained by the BBC, which states that Monitor should not be established as an "economic regulator" and should instead promote and protect the interests of the patient.
Mr Clegg told party colleagues: "People get confused when one day they hear politicians declare how much they love the NHS and the next they hear people describing themselves as government advisers saying that reform is a huge opportunity for big profits for health care corporations."Mr Clegg told party colleagues: "People get confused when one day they hear politicians declare how much they love the NHS and the next they hear people describing themselves as government advisers saying that reform is a huge opportunity for big profits for health care corporations."
This was a reference to the prime minister's speech in which he said it was his love for the NHS that drove him to change it, and a former NHS official now working for accountants KPMG, Mark Britnell, who is part of a group of people advising the government on NHS reforms.This was a reference to the prime minister's speech in which he said it was his love for the NHS that drove him to change it, and a former NHS official now working for accountants KPMG, Mark Britnell, who is part of a group of people advising the government on NHS reforms.
Mr Britnell was quoted as saying last October that the government's health reforms would be "a big opportunity" for private health firms who would show "no mercy" to the NHS.Mr Britnell was quoted as saying last October that the government's health reforms would be "a big opportunity" for private health firms who would show "no mercy" to the NHS.
'Essential purposes'
Downing Street is trying to kill the idea that a "listening exercise" over the health bill is being driven by the Lib Dems.Downing Street is trying to kill the idea that a "listening exercise" over the health bill is being driven by the Lib Dems.
But Mr Clegg hit back, telling his colleagues he would "never let the profit motive get in the way of the essential purposes of the NHS".But Mr Clegg hit back, telling his colleagues he would "never let the profit motive get in the way of the essential purposes of the NHS".
"There must be no change in the way competition law operates in our NHS. No to establishing Monitor as an economic regulator as if health care was just like electricity or the telephone and no to giving anyone in the NHS a duty to promote competition above all else.""There must be no change in the way competition law operates in our NHS. No to establishing Monitor as an economic regulator as if health care was just like electricity or the telephone and no to giving anyone in the NHS a duty to promote competition above all else."
Mr Cameron's aides have denied that Mr Britnell advises the prime minister on health. 'This is a veto'
A Department for Health spokesman said the government would "never privatise the NHS" adding: "Mark Britnell is not the prime minister's health adviser. We are currently listening to the views of experts, patients and staff on how to improve our plans to strengthen the NHS."
Conservative health minister Simon Burns told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Clegg's remarks were "part of the process of gathering ideas to see how we can strengthen the bill", during the current listening exercise.
He said the process meant "everything towards improving patient care, modernising the health service is up for discussion and ideas".
But former Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris said Mr Clegg's intervention said Lib Dem MPs and peers would not vote for things which were not in the coalition agreement: "They will not vote for Monitor to be an economic regulator, so this is a veto, it is not a contribution... this is making very clear that the Liberal Democrats are stopping this."
The Lib Dems' policy document, which Mr Clegg signed, is specific.The Lib Dems' policy document, which Mr Clegg signed, is specific.
It says: "We cannot treat the NHS as if it were a utility, and the decision to establish Monitor as an "economic regulator" was clearly a misjudgement, failing to recognise all the unique characteristics of a public health service, and opening us up to accusations that we are trying to subject the NHS to the full rigours of UK and EU competition law.It says: "We cannot treat the NHS as if it were a utility, and the decision to establish Monitor as an "economic regulator" was clearly a misjudgement, failing to recognise all the unique characteristics of a public health service, and opening us up to accusations that we are trying to subject the NHS to the full rigours of UK and EU competition law.
"I have come to the conclusion that we must not make this change.""I have come to the conclusion that we must not make this change."
Following poor results in this month's devolved elections and local elections in England, Mr Clegg promised more "muscular liberalism" and to make the Lib Dem influence on the government "more visible".
Backbench Conservative MP Peter Bone said Mr Clegg had signed off the reforms and voted for them: "Why now is he changing his mind and what's happened to collective responsibility?
"If it was a Tory minister that was opposing government policy in such a way he would undoubtedly have been fired so I've no idea what the deputy prime minister is up to."
He added: "If our health service is being held back for party political reasons to shore up Nick Clegg's leadership of the Liberal party then that's an absolute disgrace."