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Nick Clegg to oppose NHS competition regulator Nick Clegg to oppose NHS competition regulator
(40 minutes later)
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 in the health service in England, a key part of planned NHS reforms.
It places the deputy PM in opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who wants more competition to drive down prices. It places the deputy PM in opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who wants more competition to cut 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.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. Labour said Mr Clegg was only interested in saving his party.
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.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 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.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.
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."
'This is a veto''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."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."
Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs who is leading the overall consultation, told the Guardian this week that plans to make enforcing competition in the NHS Monitor's primary role should be scrapped.
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.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.
It's a very curious spectacle.
Two men at the top of government who jointly signed up to reforms of the NHS, who are now competing publicly for the credit in undoing them.
This argument is going on behind the scenes with often, it seems, Andrew Lansley being a spectator as Nick Clegg and David Cameron, George Osborne and Danny Alexander battle at the top of the government about what to put in.
One should not assume that David Cameron is not in favour of changing the role of the economic regulator.
After all we know that is what Steve Field - the professor who is in charge of the formal part of the listening exercise - has advocated.
It's quite possible this will happen, one can only imagine what Andrew Lansley makes of it all and whether he will be happy to supervise it.
He said the process meant "everything towards improving patient care, modernising the health service is up for discussion and ideas".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."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."
'Disgrace'
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".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".
For Labour Shadow Health Secretary John Healey said people "can't trust Nick Clegg on the NHS".
"He only wants to save his party. For the past 12 months, the deputy prime minister has backed the Tory changes to the hilt and Lib Dem MPs have voted for it at every stage in Parliament.
"The Lib Dems are now making arguments on the NHS that Labour has been making for months.
"It's only since his party's disastrous showing at the local elections that Mr Clegg has started back-peddling.
"He's now trying to do a u-turn over the Health Bill while in fact up to his neck in it."
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?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." "If it was a Tory minister that was opposing government policy in such a way he would undoubtedly have been fired."
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."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."