Lib Dem health bill rebel: Chance to influence health bill is now

Andrew George, the Lib Dem rebel on the health bill, bluntly emailed Lib Dem activists last month warning of the risks of waiting till the party conference to oppose the health bill:

"Of course I'll try to influence colleagues but some are still basking in the synthetic afterglow of the post-pause bill revision, perhaps having duped themselves that it's 'job done'!

"People need to wake up to the fact that we can say what we like at conference, but the MPs' main chance to influence would already have passed!"