Clegg struggles for ownership as endgame nears for NHS reform
By Ian DuntFollow @IanDunt
Nick Clegg's efforts to chalk up changes to NHS reform as a victory for the Liberal Democrats faced criticism today, as Westminster awaited a final report into the proposals.
The NHS Future Forum, which has conducted a two-month consultation on the health and social care bill since the government paused it, delivered its final report this afternoon.
Mr Clegg had planned to take the report with him to a meeting of the parliamentary party, arguing that he had secured 11 of the 13 demands made by Lib Dem members during the party's spring conference, when they embarrassed their leadership by overwhelmingly voting to oppose the legislation.
The Lib Dem leader's desire to sell the changed plans as a Lib Dem victory was met with disdain by Conservative colleagues and other parliamentary observers, however.
Asked if the new bill could be considered a Lib Dem victory, a Downing Street spokesman said: "I don't think we would characterise the debate that way."
Tory backbencher Nick de Bois, who has emerged as the unofficial figurehead of Conservatives disenchanted with changes to the bill, suggested the deputy prime minister was being immature.
"The NHS is too serious a policy issue to warrant all the kindergarten politics witnessed this weekend from our partners," he told the Guardian.
"We should focus on the policy not the politics and from what I have seen so far I am encouraged and am looking forward to seeing the detail of the reforms."
Others pointed out that the government's apparent eagerness to press on with the bill chimed badly with Mr Clegg's statement last month that he would send it back to committee.
Such a move would have delayed the law for at least six months, but current reports suggest the government could press ahead almost immediately – making amendments in the next few weeks and restarting its parliamentary progress before the summer break.
Despite the criticism, the NHS Future Forum ticked off several pivotal Lib Dem complaints.
Non-GP medical staff are to be added to the commissioning process and the 2013 timetable for the consortia will almost certainly be scrapped.
Importantly, the watchdog Monitor will have its mission statement changed so that competition does not hold a pre-eminent role in the way the NHS operates.
Mr Clegg believes the changes will prevent private firms 'cherry-picking' NHS services.
"I am satisfied. I think the concerns raised have been met. It's been a very constructive process," Norman Lamb, Mr Clegg's chief political adviser, who threatened to quit over the reforms, told the BBC.
"This is not a case of triumphalism. This is a case of improving the policy."
Labour still looks as if it will attempt to block the reforms, however, after shadow health secretary John Healey said the supposed policy victories were "heavy with Lib Dem spin".
He added: "My fear is that we'll hear the prime minister claim these are substantial and significant changes, but the long-term ideological plan to turn the NHS into a market, to open up all parts of the NHS to private companies, will remain.
The NHS Future Forum, led by former Royal College of GPs boss professor Steve Field, carried out over 200 consultation events with the medical profession.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley, David Cameron and Mr Clegg are expected to officially issue a detailed government response tomorrow.
