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Nick Robinson
Political editor
Miliband's NHS focus at question time
For the third question time in a row Ed Miliband has exposed the prime minister's vulnerability on the NHS. For the third time in a row David Cameron has been watched by glum Liberal Democrats.
What wounded the PM this week were his own words quoted back at him:
"Change - if it is to endure, if it is to really work - should have the support of people who work in our NHS. We have to take our nurses and doctors with us... we want to work with them, not against them."
This week, the Labour leader quipped - in a reference to Monday's very selective health summit - the PM hadn't even been prepared to be in the same room as the representatives of not just doctors and nurses but midwives, physios and many others who work in the NHS.
The next threat to the NHS Bill will come not in this afternoon's Opposition Day vote and not from within the Conservative Party but from grass-roots Lib Dems.
There is now a move to secure an emergency motion at the party's spring conference to kill the bill and an activists' petition as well.
Most telling of all, though, is the fact that Nick Clegg has told allies that he is losing more activists from the party on this issue than he did on tuition fees.
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Comment number 305.
sagamix24th February 2012 - 23:40
@ 300/301
Yes, a soul group, BG. C'mon - if you don't know that by now you never will.
Interesting point in the MB 'class' doc - that the Atlee government blew a big chance to end the private schools nonsense. They could have done it but chickened. Never thought of it quite like that before.
Would have saved me so much blogging heartache.
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Comment number 304.
Idont Believeit24th February 2012 - 23:12
menin 298
How can you put up a 'good argument' for a meaningless soundbite? Ranks along with 'The Big Society' (You'll have to sort out the mess our policies leave?) and 'You can't borrow your way out of a debt crisis' (But that's what we're doing anyway?)
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Comment number 303.
TheGingerF24th February 2012 - 22:57
Good news for Cameron on the NHS - there are now so many companies having doubts on the 'free workers' welfare scheme that it is taking some attention away from the NHS debacle for now.
Damn socialists - every where you turn, spoiling these well thought through and executed Tory plans.
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Comment number 302.
GeordieDave2824th February 2012 - 22:50
@PaulErith
The NHS and Massive Council Housing projects were undertaken soon after WW2 when the country was in a similarly deep hole financially, war loans etc.The main reasons for both were that standards of life for the many in this country were not very pleasant, unable to afford the only healthcare at the time, private. They could do it then. I don't believe they can't do it now!
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Comment number 301.
TheBlameGame24th February 2012 - 22:08
#300 Apologies Melvyn with a 'y'.
Thinking of Melvin & the Bluenotes for some odd reason.
Although what they have to do with NHS reforms heaven knows.
I thought they were a Philly's soul group.
Just when you think you know your music.
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Comments 5 of 305