This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17002166
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Simon Hughes: Andrew Lansley should go after NHS change | Simon Hughes: Andrew Lansley should go after NHS change |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley should "move on" from his role after NHS reforms in England are completed, Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes says. | Health Secretary Andrew Lansley should "move on" from his role after NHS reforms in England are completed, Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes says. |
The prime minister has backed Mr Lansley, amid reports three Tory ministers privately attacked his handling of the issue. | The prime minister has backed Mr Lansley, amid reports three Tory ministers privately attacked his handling of the issue. |
Mr Hughes said the Bill would be better after changes made in the Lords, but still not what "we would have wanted". | Mr Hughes said the Bill would be better after changes made in the Lords, but still not what "we would have wanted". |
Labour says the PM has put "political pride" before the NHS's best interests. | Labour says the PM has put "political pride" before the NHS's best interests. |
The Health and Social Care Bill aims to overhaul the way the NHS in England works, giving GPs more control of the NHS budget and boost the private sector's role. | The Health and Social Care Bill aims to overhaul the way the NHS in England works, giving GPs more control of the NHS budget and boost the private sector's role. |
Bodies such as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing remain opposed to the reforms, despite concessions from ministers. | Bodies such as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing remain opposed to the reforms, despite concessions from ministers. |
While giving GPs a bigger say has been welcomed by some, the competition element remains deeply controversial. | |
'Not wanted' | 'Not wanted' |
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". | 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 it was still "not the Bill we would have wanted", he said. | But it was still "not the Bill we would have wanted", he said. |
Asked about Mr Lansley's position, Mr Hughes told BBC1's Andrew Marr show it might be for the best if he changed roles - but only after the reforms were in place. | Asked about Mr Lansley's position, Mr Hughes told BBC1's Andrew Marr show it might be for the best if he changed roles - but only after the reforms were in place. |
"My political judgment is that in the second half of the parliament it would be better to move on," he said. | "My political judgment is that in the second half of the parliament it would be better to move on," he said. |
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham vowed to give Mr Cameron the "fight of his life" unless he toned down the bill. | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham vowed to give Mr Cameron the "fight of his life" unless he toned down the bill. |
"Mr Cameron is making a grave mistake by saying he is going to force it on to the statute book," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. | "Mr Cameron is making a grave mistake by saying he is going to force it on to the statute book," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. |
Mr Burnham said he believed the bill - said to be proposing the biggest shake-up since the founding of the NHS in 1948 - would not be passed. | Mr Burnham said he believed the bill - said to be proposing the biggest shake-up since the founding of the NHS in 1948 - would not be passed. |
He said he was not against change but that the "back-room reforms" 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. |
"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." |
'No alternative' | 'No alternative' |
His comments came after Mr Cameron accused Labour of opportunism over the issue. | His comments came after Mr Cameron accused Labour of opportunism over the issue. |
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 in a comment piece in the Sunday Times. | "Choice, competition and transparency may unsettle some people," he wrote in a comment piece in the Sunday Times. |
"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 the report of three of his party's cabinet ministers criticising Mr Lansley's handing of the bill, which applies to England. | His intervention followed the report of three of his party's cabinet ministers criticising Mr Lansley's handing of the bill, which applies to England. |
And writing in the Mail on Sunday, Conservative backbencher Nadine Dorries also criticised the prime minister's approach. | And writing in the Mail on Sunday, Conservative backbencher Nadine Dorries also criticised the prime minister's approach. |
"It is clear that Cameron wants to kill his own NHS bill - and Lansley's career with it." | "It is clear that Cameron wants to kill his own NHS bill - and Lansley's career with it." |
But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told BBC1's Sunday Politics: "I am not aware of any cabinet minister that has expressed reservations about the reforms." | But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told BBC1's Sunday Politics: "I am not aware of any cabinet minister that has expressed reservations about the reforms." |
Mr Pickles dismissed backbenchers' concerns that the reforms could cost the Conservatives a majority at the next general election, saying the party must "do the right thing". | Mr Pickles dismissed backbenchers' concerns that the reforms could cost the Conservatives a majority at the next general election, saying the party must "do the right thing". |
And Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported Mr Lansley, saying he believed he would eventually be seen "as the architect of the modern NHS". | And Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported Mr Lansley, saying he believed he would eventually be seen "as the architect of the modern NHS". |
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". | 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". |