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NHS reforms live blog - will the bill be dropped? NHS reforms live blog - will the bill be dropped?
(40 minutes later)
10.49am: Baroness Warsi, the Tory chair, has responded to the ConservativeHome post, in defence of the bill. Conservatism has always been about handing power to the individual, she argues, and this is what the bill will do (cutting out £4.5bn in bureaucracy in the process).
/>She goes on: 		11.17am: Warsi's article was entitled - perhaps in a slightly inflammatory fashion - "As Conservatives it is our duty to support the NHS bill". In response author John O'Donoghue tweets:
The simple truth is that the Bill hands power to the frontline, and all of the arguments against it simply play to the vested interests of those who have something to lose. In fact, the arguments against it are incoherent when put together in any case. No Baroness W it's not the duty of Conservatives to support the NHS Bill; it's the duty of Conservatives to do what's best for the country.
The first argument against the Bill is that we don't need legislation. Those who articulate this argument all of a sudden should be asked why, then, do they oppose it? — John O'Donoghue (@JOD45) February 10, 2012
The second argument against the Bill is that it introduces a free market free for all. This is inconsistent with the first argument, and indeed with the Bill. It is a myth that the Bill introduces a free market – rather it ensure the NHS is a properly regulated sector, which gives patients power while protecting patients' interests. And on his blog journalist Iain Martin has some ideas on how the prime minister could get out of the tricky situation he finds himself in :
The final argument is the most threadbare. People claim that the NHS needs to deliver £20 billion of efficiencies over the next few years, and that this Bill is a distraction. That is a cruel deceit. The Bill is needed to ensure that the NHS is more efficient. It is needed precisely to avoid a situation happening in the future where a Labour Government allows a £20 billion productivity black hole in the NHS from opening up. Cameron now has to work out how to extricate himself. Actually, I don't think it's quite as difficult as it appears in the middle of the current media maelstrom. If he does decide to do it he would need a new health secretary. With that person he would call a press conference to say that he had listened to the medical profession and decided to take his medicine. The bill would be dropped and a helpline would be set up for confused doctors. Cameron could say that much of the better parts of the bill, on GP commissioning etc, could be implemented without legislation ... There would be a "huge row", but it would subside after a few days.
10.49am: Baroness Warsi, the Tory chair, has responded to the ConservativeHome post, in defence of the bill. Conservatism has always been about handing power to the individual, she argues, and this is what the bill will do (cutting out £4.5bn in bureaucracy in the process). She goes on:
The simple truth is that the bill hands power to the frontline, and all of the arguments against it simply play to the vested interests of those who have something to lose. In fact, the arguments against it are incoherent when put together in any case.
The first argument against the bill is that we don't need legislation. Those who articulate this argument all of a sudden should be asked why, then, do they oppose it?
The second argument against the bill is that it introduces a free market free for all. This is inconsistent with the first argument, and indeed with the bill. It is a myth that the bill introduces a free market – rather it ensure the NHS is a properly regulated sector, which gives patients power while protecting patients' interests.
The final argument is the most threadbare. People claim that the NHS needs to deliver £20bn of efficiencies over the next few years, and that this bill is a distraction. That is a cruel deceit. The bill is needed to ensure that the NHS is more efficient. It is needed precisely to avoid a situation happening in the future where a Labour government allows a £20bn productivity black hole in the NHS from opening up.
10.29am: Andy Burnham (left), the shadow health secretary, has been calling for the bill to be scrapped in its entirety today. But he did say that if the government did that he would be willing to sit down with them and introduce GP-led commissioning on a cross-party basis.10.29am: Andy Burnham (left), the shadow health secretary, has been calling for the bill to be scrapped in its entirety today. But he did say that if the government did that he would be willing to sit down with them and introduce GP-led commissioning on a cross-party basis.
The Press Association reports Burnham saying:The Press Association reports Burnham saying:
We already know that the prime minister isn't listening to doctors and nurses. But it's a shock to find out that even senior members of his own cabinet have to take to a Conservative website to get through to him about the damage he is doing to the NHS.We already know that the prime minister isn't listening to doctors and nurses. But it's a shock to find out that even senior members of his own cabinet have to take to a Conservative website to get through to him about the damage he is doing to the NHS.
It couldn't be clearer: this is an out-of-touch prime minister who is putting his political pride before the best interests of the NHS. Only this week, he insisted he will try to ram a bill through parliament which no one wants and which will do irreparable harm to our health service. David Cameron promised to protect the NHS but every day he digs in behind his bill, he damages it further. He is out of touch with the people of Britain. He is betraying the NHS. He must drop this bill.It couldn't be clearer: this is an out-of-touch prime minister who is putting his political pride before the best interests of the NHS. Only this week, he insisted he will try to ram a bill through parliament which no one wants and which will do irreparable harm to our health service. David Cameron promised to protect the NHS but every day he digs in behind his bill, he damages it further. He is out of touch with the people of Britain. He is betraying the NHS. He must drop this bill.
On Sky News he expanded upon these comments, saying it was "the wrong time to reorganise the NHS".On Sky News he expanded upon these comments, saying it was "the wrong time to reorganise the NHS".
We've said that from the very beginning. The NHS is facing the biggest financial challenge in its history. It needs to focus everything on that challenge because it's a huge challenge that's facing. The government did the worst possible thing which was to launch the biggest ever reorganisation.We've said that from the very beginning. The NHS is facing the biggest financial challenge in its history. It needs to focus everything on that challenge because it's a huge challenge that's facing. The government did the worst possible thing which was to launch the biggest ever reorganisation.
Asked what kind of reforms the health service actually needed, Burnham said:Asked what kind of reforms the health service actually needed, Burnham said:
The change the NHS needs is change to services on the ground. So fewer patients treated in hospital, more patient treated in their local community or even at home. That's the kind of change the NHS needs to make it fit for the future. The problem with this back-office is that it wastes billions of pounds on strictures and redundancies and consultants' fees when all of our attention should be on that service change to help the NHS get ready for the future. That is what is so catastrophic with this unnecessary bill.The change the NHS needs is change to services on the ground. So fewer patients treated in hospital, more patient treated in their local community or even at home. That's the kind of change the NHS needs to make it fit for the future. The problem with this back-office is that it wastes billions of pounds on strictures and redundancies and consultants' fees when all of our attention should be on that service change to help the NHS get ready for the future. That is what is so catastrophic with this unnecessary bill.
He was asked whether it would be better to amend the bill now than scrap it.He was asked whether it would be better to amend the bill now than scrap it.
This bill is unamendable. It's three times as big as the bill that created the National Health Service. We've already had 2,000 government amendments. It's a complete and unmitigated mess. And it's not possible to amend this bill; it would just cause confusion to people in the health service.This bill is unamendable. It's three times as big as the bill that created the National Health Service. We've already had 2,000 government amendments. It's a complete and unmitigated mess. And it's not possible to amend this bill; it would just cause confusion to people in the health service.
I've not just said 'drop the bill'. I've said if they drop the bill I will work with them to introduce GP-led commissioning. Now, ConservativeHome are saying today in their article that perhaps the prime minister should sit round the table with me and others in the Labour party to agree a cross-party way forward. Now, I [would] accept that invitation. I would play my part to put the NHS first and bring stability to the service but on condition that the entire bill is dropped.I've not just said 'drop the bill'. I've said if they drop the bill I will work with them to introduce GP-led commissioning. Now, ConservativeHome are saying today in their article that perhaps the prime minister should sit round the table with me and others in the Labour party to agree a cross-party way forward. Now, I [would] accept that invitation. I would play my part to put the NHS first and bring stability to the service but on condition that the entire bill is dropped.
10.15am: The government's controversial reorganisation of the NHS has run into fresh trouble today after the Conservative party's most widely read and influential website urged David Cameron to scrap large chunks of the legislation and replace Andrew Lansley as health secretary.10.15am: The government's controversial reorganisation of the NHS has run into fresh trouble today after the Conservative party's most widely read and influential website urged David Cameron to scrap large chunks of the legislation and replace Andrew Lansley as health secretary.
Tim Montgomerie, the editor of ConservativeHome, said in a post published this morning that Lansley, the health secretary, had failed to win public support for the legislation and that, if the Tories did not back down, every problem with the NHS over the next three years would be blamed on the bill.Tim Montgomerie, the editor of ConservativeHome, said in a post published this morning that Lansley, the health secretary, had failed to win public support for the legislation and that, if the Tories did not back down, every problem with the NHS over the next three years would be blamed on the bill.
Montgomerie said he was encouraged to speak out by three Tory cabinet ministers who felt negatively about the bill. Montgomerie wrote:Montgomerie said he was encouraged to speak out by three Tory cabinet ministers who felt negatively about the bill. Montgomerie wrote:
One was insistent the bill must be dropped. Another said Andrew Lansley must be replaced. Another likened the NHS reforms to the poll tax.One was insistent the bill must be dropped. Another said Andrew Lansley must be replaced. Another likened the NHS reforms to the poll tax.
To add to the government's problems regarding the controversial bill - which hands £60bn of NHS funds to GP-led local groups of doctors to spend on patients' treatments and opens the door to more private provision of NHS services - it was revealed that Lib Dem activists want to call a vote on scrapping the bill at the Lib Dem spring conference next month.To add to the government's problems regarding the controversial bill - which hands £60bn of NHS funds to GP-led local groups of doctors to spend on patients' treatments and opens the door to more private provision of NHS services - it was revealed that Lib Dem activists want to call a vote on scrapping the bill at the Lib Dem spring conference next month.
The bill is currently going through the House of Lords and my colleague Tom Clark has written a great piece explaining what the legislation proposes and how that differs from the government's original plans. As Tom explains, some of the changes proposed by the bill, such as PCTs merging into "clusters" as a prelude to abolition, have already begun.The bill is currently going through the House of Lords and my colleague Tom Clark has written a great piece explaining what the legislation proposes and how that differs from the government's original plans. As Tom explains, some of the changes proposed by the bill, such as PCTs merging into "clusters" as a prelude to abolition, have already begun.
Can the NHS bill be unpicked at this stage or are the only choices available to the government pushing it through or scrapping it altogether? Is it too late now to row back on some parts of the bill? Let me know which of the changes you would retain at this stage, which you would get rid of - and what you think the result would be.Can the NHS bill be unpicked at this stage or are the only choices available to the government pushing it through or scrapping it altogether? Is it too late now to row back on some parts of the bill? Let me know which of the changes you would retain at this stage, which you would get rid of - and what you think the result would be.
We will be covering all developments live here throughout the day.We will be covering all developments live here throughout the day.