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Conservative website calls for NHS bill changes Cabinet NHS split reports 'tittle tattle' - minister
(40 minutes later)
  
David Cameron should drop much of the controversial bill aimed at overhauling the NHS in England, href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/02/the-unnecessary-and-unpopular-nhs-bill-could-cost-the-conservative-party-the-next-election-cameron-m.html" >according to the grassroots ConservativeHome website. Ministers have defended the controversial NHS bill, amid reports that three Conservative cabinet ministers have concerns about it.
Its editor, Tim Montgomerie, told the BBC he had written the piece because three Conservative cabinet ministers had contacted him with their concerns. Tim Montgomerie, of the grassroots ConservativeHome website, said he was prompted to write href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/02/the-unnecessary-and-unpopular-nhs-bill-could-cost-the-conservative-party-the-next-election-cameron-m.html" >a critical editorial by the ministers' intervention.
Ministers have made concessions to head off a rebellion by Lib Dem peers. Health Minister Simon Burns said that was "tittle tattle" and in Parliament there was "solid support" for reform.
But the prime minister backed the bill on Wednesday - amid calls from Labour to drop it entirely. The prime minister has backed the bill amid calls from Labour to drop it.
He also stood by his health secretary, Andrew Lansley, amid speculation about his position following opposition to the bill from medical professionals' groups.He also stood by his health secretary, Andrew Lansley, amid speculation about his position following opposition to the bill from medical professionals' groups.
'Political problem''Political problem'
The Health and Social Care Bill introduces the biggest shake-up since the founding of the NHS in 1948, putting GPs in control of much of its budget and encouraging greater competition with the private sector.The Health and Social Care Bill introduces the biggest shake-up since the founding of the NHS in 1948, putting GPs in control of much of its budget and encouraging greater competition with the private sector.
Among concessions offered by the government was an amendment to strengthen the accountability of the health secretary, to guarantee "beyond doubt" his duty to keep the overall NHS intact.Among concessions offered by the government was an amendment to strengthen the accountability of the health secretary, to guarantee "beyond doubt" his duty to keep the overall NHS intact.
But Mr Montgomerie, whose website describes itself as "independent of the Conservative Party but supportive of it" argued that putting the NHS back at the centre of debate was David Cameron's biggest mistake as PM. But Mr Montgomerie, whose website describes itself as "independent of the Conservative Party but supportive of it", argued that putting the NHS back at the centre of debate was David Cameron's biggest mistake as PM.
In an interview with the BBC, he would not name the ministers he said had contacted him with concerns.In an interview with the BBC, he would not name the ministers he said had contacted him with concerns.
'Going to be blamed''Going to be blamed'
But he said he had not just written it because of a "rush of blood to the head".But he said he had not just written it because of a "rush of blood to the head".
"This is something that has come from three members of the cabinet. Over the last 48 hours I've been speaking to a lot of people inside the Conservative machine, inside the Conservative team and there's huge concern about the NHS bill.""This is something that has come from three members of the cabinet. Over the last 48 hours I've been speaking to a lot of people inside the Conservative machine, inside the Conservative team and there's huge concern about the NHS bill."
He said the NHS was going to have difficult years ahead - because of tight spending - anyway: "The problem for the Conservative Party and for the Liberal Democrats now is that every problem in the NHS that would have happened anyway, because of that financial situation, is going to be blamed on the bill.He said the NHS was going to have difficult years ahead - because of tight spending - anyway: "The problem for the Conservative Party and for the Liberal Democrats now is that every problem in the NHS that would have happened anyway, because of that financial situation, is going to be blamed on the bill.
"The consensus seems to be that if the bill really was transformational then perhaps the pain would be worth it. But actually most of the things that are necessary for the NHS to improve, for efficiencies to be delivered, could be achieved without the bill.""The consensus seems to be that if the bill really was transformational then perhaps the pain would be worth it. But actually most of the things that are necessary for the NHS to improve, for efficiencies to be delivered, could be achieved without the bill."
He said the problem would be felt in two years' time, when the NHS was "creaking" due to spending constraints - which the public would blame on the bill.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said there had been a debate within the coalition about whether the bill was necessary for some of the changes to be implemented - and some blamed Health Secretary Andrew Lansley for messing up the presentation of the policy.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said there had been a debate within the coalition about whether the bill was necessary for some of the changes to be implemented - and some blamed Health Secretary Andrew Lansley for messing up the presentation of the policy.
But he added Mr Cameron had already passed up two opportunities to remove Mr Lansley as health secretary - in mini-reshuffles prompted by the resignations of Liam Fox and Chris Huhne.But he added Mr Cameron had already passed up two opportunities to remove Mr Lansley as health secretary - in mini-reshuffles prompted by the resignations of Liam Fox and Chris Huhne.
He said there was a "deep neuralgia" about the NHS in the Conservative Party - and there was now a fear that, having neutralised the issue, the bill now looked set to cause them problems at the next general election. In response to Mr Montgomerie's article, Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi wrote on the same website that the bill "represents the most radical decentralisation of power that the NHS has witnessed in its history" and Conservatives had a "duty to support it".
In response to Mr Montgomerie's article, Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi wrote on the same website that the bill "represents the most radical decentralisation of power that the NHS has witnessed in its history". Asked about the apparent opposition of three Conservative cabinet ministers, Health Minister Simon Burns told the BBC: "It's tittle tattle and what's more important is the NHS is able to move forward, modernise and ensure patients are in the heart of decision-making on their treatment and care, that bureaucracy is cut.
"As Conservatives, it is our duty to support it. It passes power to patients. It gives control over the NHS budget to doctors and nurses, and gives greater freedoms to hospitals. It cuts out £4.5bn of bureaucracy. It is in every way a Bill that hands power to the front line." "That is the change that is the important issue, not the noises off."
For Labour, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham told the BBC: "I'm pleased this morning to welcome members of the cabinet to the 'Drop the Bill' campaign. He added that dropping the bill, as Labour has suggested, "just can't be an option because, despite what [shadow health secretary] Andy Burnham says, you do actually need legislation to abolish strategic health authorities and primary care trusts."
But Lib Dem MP John Pugh - who has criticised the reforms - told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the ConservativeHome report "chimes .. with what I myself have learnt in conversations with Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the last few days".
He said the bill had been improved - but was still about the "marketisation of the NHS", and professional and public opinion had "hardened quite considerably against that".
For Labour, Mr Burnham told the BBC: "I'm pleased this morning to welcome members of the cabinet to the 'Drop the Bill' campaign.
"It leaves the prime minister looking dangerously isolated and out of touch.""It leaves the prime minister looking dangerously isolated and out of touch."
This week the government made 136 changes to its own plans to reform the NHS in England to try to get the bill through the House of Lords.This week the government made 136 changes to its own plans to reform the NHS in England to try to get the bill through the House of Lords.