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Cameron 'faces fight for his life' over NHS - Burnham Cameron 'faces fight for his life' over NHS - Burnham
(about 1 hour 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.
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. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes told the programme it might be for the best if Mr Lansley moved after the health reforms were in place.
"My political judgment is that in the second half of the parliament it would be better to move on," he told the programme.
But Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported Mr Lansley, saying he believed he 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.
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 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." He said: "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.
He said he "wasn't against change" but called the changes "back-room reforms" which were a "distraction" from what the health service needed. He said he was not against change but that the "back-room reforms" were a distraction from what the health service needed.
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."
Mr Burnham's comments come after Mr Cameron accused Labour of "opportunism" in a comment piece in the Sunday Times. Bodies such as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing remain opposed to the bill, despite concessions from ministers, although NHS trusts and chief executives have backed the plans.
Mr Hughes, a senior Lib Dem who remains outside government, said amendments demanded by the House of Lords could get the bill "in better shape".
But he added: "It is not the bill we would have wanted."
The latest comments come after Mr Cameron accused Labour of opportunism over the issue 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.
"Choice, competition and transparency may unsettle some people," he wrote."Choice, competition and transparency may unsettle some people," he wrote.
'The right thing'
"But it's these things at the heart of our reform that will lead to the better NHS I care about and our country deserves.""But it's these things at the heart of our reform that will lead to the better NHS I care about and our country deserves."
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.
The changes give GPs control of much of their budgets and widen competition. However, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told BBC1's Sunday Politics: "I am not aware of any cabinet minister that has expressed reservations about the reforms."
They have been opposed by organisations representing NHS staff, although NHS trusts and chief executives have backed the plans. Mr Pickles dismissed backbenchers' concerns the reforms could cost the Conservatives a majority at the next general election, saying the party must "do the right thing".
On Mr Lansley, Mr Hunt told the BBC it was wrong to judge someone who was "in the eye of the storm". Mr Hunt told the BBC Mr Lansley was the right person for the job and that 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.