Tim Farron wants competition dropped from the Health Bill
Jonathan Jones 3:50pm
Will there be further changes to the Health and Social Care Bill? Liberal Democrat
President Tim Farron certainly wants some, as he told ITV’s Party People last night:
Farron’s echoing the call made by fellow Lib Dem Shirley Williams last week and by a group of activists who have submitted an emergency motion for their party conference in two weeks.‘If the new competition introduced through this Bill is removed, then I think it’s better on the books than it is off it… What I want is for the Lords to propose changes that will remove the new competition elements from the Bill and I would like the Government to give way on those things. It's all to play for.’
And on the Conservative side of the coalition, Earl Howe — health minister in the Lords — sounds a conciliatory note in an interview for the latest issue
[http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/47130/earl_howe_keeping_a_healthy_outlook.html] of The House magazine, saying:
But No.10 and Andrew Lansley seem far less inclined to accommodate these Lib Dem demands. The Evening Standard has got hold of a briefing note for Tory MPs in which they warn:‘A lot of the concern is unnecessary and unwarranted, but there are, of course, worries about competition law which we’ve got to sort out, and I believe we can. Shirley Williams has been tremendous in challenging us all along the way — with her immense experience, she’s very well equipped to do that. I see her a lot and I shall hope to talk through her particular concerns on this aspect of the bill… and I hope we can reach an accommodation.’
That fear may be well-founded, but certain Lib Dems — now including the part’s President — seem determined to ensure that there’ll also be chaos if they don’t alter the Bill.‘If we changed or altered the Bill now, we would end up in a no man's land, and chaos.’
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Verity
February 24th, 2012 4:06pm Report this commentWho cares what this nonentity from a failed party has to opine?
Andy Leeds
February 24th, 2012 4:23pm Report this commentCompetition is what is needed in the NHS. It would drive up standards and reduce costs. Only a moron would be against it.
Sylva Ngen
February 24th, 2012 5:11pm Report this commentTim farron is a joke. They signed up to this as part of the coalition agreement and now he wants the bill to be drop.
He is a big fool, just because the grassroot LIBDEMs are deserting them more on this NHS top down reorganisation by this Dodgy Cameron and his junta than Tuition fee, he has the audacity to open his large mouth asking for the bill to be drop.
Tim Farron what is happening to your champion Work Programme? Should it be dropped?
Please Mr. flashman Dave stig to your gun for this will be your Waterloo in 2015.
This coalition is made up of dead men walking. They will finally drop dead in 2015 we are not rushing them, we do enjoy the mess so far.
Cameron of all will be remember as the worse PM in living memory
The Crunge
February 24th, 2012 5:40pm Report this commentCompetition is the one thing that should never be excluded from the NHS Bill. Competition is the only effective way of creating lasting efficiency. Why are left wing people so devoted to failure and inefficiency? Is it that they are simply comfortable with not having to try and lazily happy that invisible middle class people will always pick up the bill? Come on you lazy worthless left-wing idealogues why do you love failure and hate efficiency so much?
Cynic
February 24th, 2012 5:51pm Report this commentWhy is that all left-leaning individuals seem to see competition as a bad thing? It's their monopolistic, all-shall-have-prizes, reward-for-failure philosophy that has proved to be disastrous.
Fish
February 24th, 2012 5:52pm Report this commentIt sounds like the tail of the tail wagging the dog.
Barbara
February 24th, 2012 6:08pm Report this commentWho says competition will make the NHS better, what it may do is create a situation where competition gives the private sector a chance to cream off the best bits while the taxpayer pays for it. No thanks drop the bill.
David Parker
February 24th, 2012 6:25pm Report this commentThe problem here is to distinguish ( which Farron is clearly incapable of doing) between what was the agreed policy of the coalition and the (as yet unagreed) policy of the Lib-Dem party, which would only be relevant if they were in opposition, rather than pretending to be part of the Government.
Whilst the Lib-Dems remain damagingly divided internally their representatives in the coalition are more concerned with establishing their own positions and power bases than in contributing, as they promised, to governing "in the interests of the nation".
NHS reform was a part of the agreed coalition policy, and an element of competition formed an essential part of this. All that the present disagreement does is to demonstrate the Lib-Dems lack of sincerity and their unsuitability to form any part, however minor, of a future government.
MilkSnatcher
February 24th, 2012 6:54pm Report this commentThe picture of T Farron makes him look like a Tourette's sufferer on speedball. Did you choose it deliberately?
EC
February 24th, 2012 8:01pm Report this commentVerity, Feb24, 4:06pm
"Who cares what this nonentity from a failed party has to opine?"
Jonathan does, he's a party member you know.
TrevorsDen
February 25th, 2012 1:04am Report this commentYour living memory does not read as going back very far Silva.
Me no impressed.
Dimoto
February 25th, 2012 12:16pm Report this commentFarron is in the tradition of Lembit Opik, Charles Kennedy and David Steel.
The phrase that comes to mind is "the unbearable lightness of being".
They float so high on their unbearable lightness.
We would never have heard of this odd creature's "thoughts", if Jonathan Jones had not seen fit to pluck them from the depths of obscurity.
Ta Jono.
Bill Brinsmead
February 25th, 2012 1:28pm Report this commentFarron defeated the dozy Tories near me in 2005 and trounced them in 2010.
He is a brilliant campaigner, good at his politics with a set of slippery and contradictory left of centre positions on policy.
Respect your opponents if you seek to defeat them.
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