Author Archives: Graham Winyard

Opinion: Parliament needs our help on the NHS Bill

We are in real difficulty over the NHS Bill.  Spring conference showed the party at its best.  The membership expressed concerns and the leadership responded deftly with the “listening exercise”.  This aimed to reassure NHS and public opinion by securing substantial changes to Andrew Lansley’s proposals, without too much loss of face within the coalition.

We have not succeeded.  The changes to the Bill have failed to quell fears that the NHS is being fragmented in pursuit of market dogma.  There is no serious support or enthusiasm for the Bill within the NHS; indeed opposition among the health professions is hardening.  …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 24 Comments
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  • Chris Rennard
    Great recollections. I joined a few years before Simon but we overlapped and worked together in ULS when we both shared a commitment to the distinctiveness and ...
  • Tony Robertson
    Well said, I'm with you and think your assessment is spot on. Too much treading water, not enough radical Liberalism. I've been a member since 1980 and fear we'...
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    @ Sarah: absolutely...
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