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Cameron 'faces fight for his life' over NHS - Burnham Cameron 'faces fight for his life' over NHS - Burnham
(40 minutes later)
 
David Cameron is "putting political pride" before the best interests of the NHS, said shadow health secretary Andy Burnham.David Cameron is "putting political pride" before the best interests of the NHS, said shadow health secretary Andy Burnham.
He said Labour would give Mr Cameron the "fight of his life" unless he toned down the Health and Social Care bill.He said Labour would give Mr Cameron the "fight of his life" unless he toned down the Health and Social Care bill.
Mr Burnham told the BBC's Andrew Marr show he believed the bill for England would not be passed.Mr Burnham told the BBC's Andrew Marr show he believed the bill for England would not be passed.
Mr Cameron has backed health secretary Andrew Lansley following speculation about his future due to the furore. Mr Cameron has backed Health Secretary Andrew Lansley following speculation about his future due to the furore.
Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, told the programme that he believed it might be for the best if Mr Lansley moved on during the second half of Parliament but only after the health reforms have been put in place. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Mr Hughes told the programme it might be for the best if Mr Lansley moved on during the second half of Parliament after the health reforms were in place.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the programme he supported Mr Lansley, who he believed would eventually be seen "as the architect of the modern NHS". But Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported Mr Lansley, saying he believed he would eventually be seen "as the architect of the modern NHS".
'Tooth and nail''Tooth and nail'
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.
But Mr Burnham said the Labour party would continue to oppose "tooth and nail" the contents of the bill. Mr Burnham said the Labour party would continue to oppose "tooth and nail" the contents of the bill.
He said: "I think this bill is not wanted by the overwhelming majority of people in the NHS, but also those in the country.He said: "I think this bill is not wanted by the overwhelming majority of people in the NHS, but also those in the country.
"I think Mr Cameron is making a grave mistake by saying he is going to force it on to the statute book. He is putting his political pride before the best interests of the NHS.""I think Mr Cameron is making a grave mistake by saying he is going to force it on to the statute book. He is putting his political pride before the best interests of the NHS."
"There are folk all over the country now fighting Mr Cameron's plans and I say to him, if he doesn't listen to what people are saying, we are going to give him the fight of his life."There are folk all over the country now fighting Mr Cameron's plans and I say to him, if he doesn't listen to what people are saying, we are going to give him the fight of his life.
Mr Burnham said he "wasn't against change" but called the planned changes "back-room reforms" which were a "distraction" from what the health service needed.Mr Burnham said he "wasn't against change" but called the planned changes "back-room reforms" which were a "distraction" from what the health service needed.
He called on the government to publish its "risk assessment" of the reforms.He called on the government to publish its "risk assessment" of the reforms.
"We've argued all along that the government made a catastrophic mistake when it combined the biggest financial challenge in the history of the NHS with the biggest ever reorganisation.""We've argued all along that the government made a catastrophic mistake when it combined the biggest financial challenge in the history of the NHS with the biggest ever reorganisation."
"The coalition inherited a successful and self-confident NHS but in just 18 months they've turned it into an organisation that is demoralised, destabilised and fearful of the future," he added."The coalition inherited a successful and self-confident NHS but in just 18 months they've turned it into an organisation that is demoralised, destabilised and fearful of the future," he added.
Mr Burnham's comments come after Mr Cameron accused Labour of "opportunism" in a comment piece in the Sunday Times.Mr Burnham's comments come after Mr Cameron accused Labour of "opportunism" in a comment piece in the Sunday Times.
The prime minister also said he "was at one" with his health secretary and there was no alternative to the changes going through Parliament.The prime minister also said he "was at one" with his health secretary and there was no alternative to the changes going through Parliament.
His intervention followed reports three Conservative cabinet ministers privately attacked Mr Lansley's handing of the bill, which applies to England.His intervention followed reports three Conservative cabinet ministers privately attacked Mr Lansley's handing of the bill, which applies to England.
Mr Hunt told the BBC it was wrong to judge someone who was "in the eye of the storm".Mr Hunt told the BBC it was wrong to judge someone who was "in the eye of the storm".
"Andrew Lansley is absolutely the right person for the job. He is a decent man who is passionate about the NHS," he said."Andrew Lansley is absolutely the right person for the job. He is a decent man who is passionate about the NHS," he said.