The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

PMQs review: Cameron rattled by Miliband’s NHS attack

Once again, Cameron struggled to defend the coalition’s health reforms.

By George Eaton Published 16 March 2011 14:28

Rarely has David Cameron appeared as rattled as he did at today's PMQs. Ed Miliband's decision to lead on the coalition's troubled NHS reforms proved fortuitous as the Prime Minister struggled to offer a coherent defence of his Health Bill.

Asked if he was planning any further amendments, Cameron prattled on about "cutting bureaucracy" and disingenuously claimed that the coalition would prevent "cherry-picking" by the private sector. As is frequently the case, his disregard for detail let him down. Asked if it was true that the NHS would be subject to EU competition law for the first time in its history, the PM appeared either unwilling or unable to answer Miliband's question.

Instead, for the third time in recent months, he selectively quoted from a speech by John Healey in which the shadow health secretary declared that "no one in the House of Commons knows more about the NHS than Andrew Lansley . . . these plans are consistent, coherent and comprehensive. I would expect nothing less from Andrew Lansley."

What Cameron failed to acknowledge is that Healey went on to argue:

They [the Conservatives] believe that competition drives innovation, that price competition brings better value, that profit motivates performance, and that the private sector is better than the public sector. I acknowledge the ambition but I condemn this as the core philosophy being forced into the heart of the NHS. It's wrong for patients. It's wrong for our NHS. It's wrong for Britain.

Miliband, who enjoyed his warmest reception from the Labour benches in months, made easy work of Cameron, but his lengthy questions frequently threatened to turn into speeches. At one point, he reeled off a long list of Labour's achievements on the NHS, a passage that, as Cameron suggested, was remarkably reminiscent of Gordon Brown's machine-gun delivery.

Towards the end, Cameron, visibly angered by the opposition to his reforms from the British Medical Association and Liberal Democrat activists, denounced the BMA as just another "trade union". His willingness to pick a fight with some of the country's most trusted professionals shows how determined he is to push these reforms through. There is no prospect of a forests-style U-turn.

In an attempt to demonstrate that he isn't the only one taking a political gamble, Cameron warned Miliband, whom he humorously referred to as "Son of Roadblock", not to "set his face against reform". Should the coalition's reforms prove unexpectedly popular, it is the Labour leader who will have to change tack. But for now, all the signs are that Cameron is facing a crisis entirely of his own making.

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Tags: Ed Miliband David Cameron

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29 comments

Wed, 2011-03-16 23:25 — Mr Anton Jury (not verified)

The National Health Service belongs to all of us and we should have a referendum on what happens to our National Health Service not a bunch of Politicians. The only mention of the NHS in the general election by David Cameron was that he was going to Ring Fence the NHS, not break it up and privatise it.There was no mention in the Conservatives manifesto to break it up and privatise it, they put that plan into action once they were in power.

It looks a bit like the Conservatives were attempting to get away with the biggest legalised swindle in British history by pretending to ring fence the NHS to gain votes then once in power without it being in their manifesto embarking on starving the NHS of cash and then breaking it up and privatising it. It also appears that same financial supporters of the Conservative Party are in a position to gain out of the NHS if it is broken up and privatised.

If you are interested in protecting/saving the NHS take a look at these petitions, please spread the word.

http://www.38degrees.org.uk

http://saveournhs.org/

Thu, 2011-03-17 00:07 — Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley (not verified)

One wonders if a useful way to look at things would be whether public or private sector is best at preventing rationing by waiting? This could raise important and challenging questions,I daresay concerning EU competition law as well as perhaps, EU privacy strategy which is also a going concern I understand. The last thing we want is to go back to the days of real deprivation ie where we're all supposed to be grateful for the chance to play some complaintiff type role due to the usual frustrations as we wait forever for some NHS chosen service that's supposed to be ours anyway.

Personally I don't care who provides what. So long as as a citizen I'm not expected to fill in my valuable information on any bits of paper that aren't properly regulated eg with those magic words "FSA regulated" on the bottom.

Thu, 2011-03-17 00:20 — PysFeesh (not verified)

In layman terms. I DO NOT TRUST the Tories with the NHS. Mr Anton Jury is correct about the private health donor links to the Tories. Why is this not being picked up by journalists in more detail.

Poll tax riots? Student fees riots? Sorry chaps. Touch the NHS and I will booking some days off work to come round with 60million others and cause you a headache.

Thu, 2011-03-17 00:26 — PysFeesh (not verified)

...for some reason any mention of these reforms always reminds me of that Sarah Palins "death panels" statement.

Fri, 2011-03-18 12:00 — Dominic Lynch O...

'shocked by DC's total lack of understanding on an important subject'

I agree with you! Ed Miliband's badly formed questions didn't really come across clearly and lacked substance. Not really progressive at all!

Thu, 2011-03-17 09:35 — Redview

What does it tell us, that Cameron misused of Healey's comment about Lansley a THIRD time, AND after Healey formally made a written objection to Cameron about the selective use of his words. It tells us that Cameron thinks small matters like integrity and honesty are for the little people. If he thinks he's too clever for basic morality like that, he's got another think coming. His arrogance is going to be his downfall. That and his utter inadequacy. Arrogance and incompetence - a very toxic combination.

Thu, 2011-03-17 09:36 — Redview

that 'of' after misused shouldn't be there. Soz.

Thu, 2011-03-17 09:38 — Redview

NS, you're going to have to put some sort of spam guard up!

Thu, 2011-03-17 09:41 — Redview

A Tory Troll guard wouldn't come amiss, either.

Mon, 2011-03-21 10:14 — Tussyisme (not verified)

Still awaiting response as to why my comment to above (posted 16/03) didn't appear. Thanks in advance.

Thu, 2011-03-17 11:53 — Reginald-Fah-fah

I watched PMQs yesterday and I'm very sure that Prime Minister David Cameron was not'rattled by Miliband’s NHS attack'

David Cameron answered all Ed Miliband's questions but the answers weren't what Ed Miliband wanted to hear. So his next questions didn't sound as great as they did this morning in front of the bathroom mirror!

In Ed's head pushing the bunny rabbits aside, Ed's thinking to himself 'I pictured my questioning going a different way this morning!' What Happened Ed? There goes another Bunny!

Wed, 2011-03-16 15:18 — Olu Ojedokun (not verified)

Cameron was out foxed and outwitted on all levels, exposed for the charlatan he is. His only saving grace was his poshness which seems to enamour most commentators......

Wed, 2011-03-16 15:56 — Lynda Davies (not verified)

Cameron in today's PMQ's came over as a prime minister who had no idea of what his parties policies are or what they mean for the country. Miliband on the other showed a thorough understanding of the policy. Keep it up Ed

Wed, 2011-03-16 16:18 — james (not verified)

Olu Ojedokun (nice British name).
One immigrant supporting another
immigrant.Because that shower of
a Labour government who allowed
mass immigration into this country,
has changed this nation out of all
reconition.As for Cameron being
Posh and a charlaton yes he is
rich and well educated.Stop being
such an envious twit.You sound like
Mehdi Husan.

Wed, 2011-03-16 16:56 — la potenza della speranza (not verified)

James

To para-phrase an old Scots sayimg, 'away an' shave yer heid' you quasi-fascist 'wannabe'. Unless you would like a spelling lesson from another immigrant. Perhaps if the indigenous (please, feel free to define this) people of this Island bothered to learn their own language then there'd be no need for immigrants.

Thu, 2011-03-17 18:09 — Stuff

I watched PMQs this week and was again shocked by DC's total lack of understanding on an important subject ie. the NHS situation to the extent that he appears to not know what is included in the Bill going through Parliament. His comment about the BMA being just another trade union summed it up. His miss-speaking was also once again out of control. Surely the Conservative party must be able find a better leader?
Go to the BBC i-player if you missed it live I have started recording the live session to make sure that I do not miss-hear what is being said.

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:02 — Leigh (not verified)

James – everyone living Britain, including you, are immigrants. Not a single person can trace their heritage to the first settlers. Mehdi Hasan is also the correct spelling.

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:08 — Marcus (not verified)

Unlike last week i think Cameron completely dominated. His "feable" line is one i expect to be repeated over the next year, mainly because it works.

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:13 — Olu Ojedokun (not verified)

Mr James, please it is Dr Ojedokun to you, secondly I am so sorry to disappoint you for I am no immigrant I was born in Clapham, South London to be precise. You always know when a man has lost the argument he resorts to stereotype.

Finally, I did not hear any complaints when in the name of the British Empire the resources of these foreign sounding places was exploited!

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:29 — Olijaan

Well said Olu Ojedokun. I've been hearing far too much knee-jerk nonsense on immigration recently.

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:45 — Scotty

MilliE showed again how unfited he is to be aleader - of anything - supported only by the trade unions and therfore a lap dog to the luddites on the left - of course the MD's dont want change - they got so so much pay and reduced work load out of labour's incompetent management under baloon, supported of course by who - the two eds.

Wed, 2011-03-16 17:56 — la potenza della speranza (not verified)

I haven't seen PMQ's this week however in general, although it is not all that significant, I think Ed has done pretty well in the commons.

Regarding the policy, whether MD's were underworked (and I severely doubt that personally) or not, I still feel strongly that we should not allow private sector profiteers to cherry pick the NHS and make profit from peoples misfortune and illness. We need only look at the U.S.A. to see the abuses that can be created by allowing this to happen. I also believe it to be fundamentally wrong.

Wed, 2011-03-16 18:55 — Kevin (Irish name) (not verified)

James,

Even if you were correct in your assumption that Dr Ojedokun is an "immigrant" - which you weren't - I'm afraid his command of the English language is still vastly superior to yours. Now, what does that say about you?

If, as you seem to believe, you are truly representative of Britain then as far as I'm concerned, the sooner it changes beyond 'reconition' the better.

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:00 — Nick Leahy (not verified)

Olu,

In what way was Cameron out foxed and outwitted in the House of Commons today? True, he made a joke about Miliband being the son of roadblock which fell flat on its face, but this does not mean that Miliband won the debate. That man always appears weak and lost for words in the Commons, he is incapable of making an attack on anyone - he is a lame duck Labour leader just holding shop before someone serious comes and Labour can once again begin to make itself acceptable to the electorate. I actually felt sorry for Miliband today, not the other way round. He'll be out of a job come this time next year.

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:04 — Extranea (not verified)

Definitely Camerons worst day at the dispatch box, and Ed Milibands best. The NHS is the big one. It is so ill thought out, Labour have to make this one count when opposing the government.http://bit.ly/grwKZG

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:04 — Nick Leahy (not verified)

Plus, can we please move on from debates about who is foreign and who is not. For God's sake we live in the 21st century ,not the 18th. I consider anyone who lives in this country to be a part of our community, and they have the right to say whatever they want. As a student i am sick to death of hearing people from the older generation talking about immigrants as if they are some threat to our country. Grow out of your outdated and unwelcome prejudices. Idiots.

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:29 — JamesB1

Cameron had a shocker today. That's not to say Miliband "won" the debate because there wasn't one. Just questions on both sides being ignored in favour of a sound-bite insult (Son of Roadblock is one of the worst I've ever heard).

The most annoying thing for me from PMQs is the pointless statements in the guise of questions. The one which sticks in my mind was one of a double murder; the question, essentially, being "Should the murderer be found and brought to justice?"

What an utterly inane thing to say.

I've always said that the government will implode from its own doing. If Miliband keeps his head down and gets on with things quietly then he will walk the next election.

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:38 — ang (not verified)

@George.
You are wrong to critisise Ed for reeling off Labour's achievements re the NHS.
It is true that they built many new hospitals and waiting times, outcomes and overall service where vastly improved. This is what you achieve when the party in govt cares about 'people'. Taxpayers money is put into public services that taxpayers want and pay for.
The present shower are all about big business and city friends and the royals. Labour got it absolutely right, regarding putting people first and Ed is right to shout about it, they should be proud.

Wed, 2011-03-16 19:55 — ang (not verified)

@James.
It's not about being envious of Cameron, we are just very worried that he seems not to have the first clue as to what to do about growth, foreign policy, unemployment, homelessness, the banks, oh I could go on, but you have to admit, it's a bit disconcerting?