Lord Owen turns on coalition health plans

Public Services

In the forthcoming issue of the New Statesman, senior crossbench peer and former foreign secretary Lord Owen turns on the coalition's reforms of the health service.

In the forthcoming issue of the New Statesman, senior crossbench Lib Dem peer and former foreign secretary, Lord Owen turns on the coalition’s reforms of the health service.

Lord Owen writes:

“[if] the Liberal Democrats cannot call a halt to or, at the very least, slow down, these ill-conceived health reforms they will no longer be able to claim to be the heirs of Beveridge…

“I write as the person who advocated . . . for an internal market in the Health Service. [But] the internal market is not the same as an external market. It was never envisaged that decisions should be taken solely on competitive and financial grounds, without regard for the obligation to provide the best possible medical care.”

The former leader of the SDP, the precursor of the Liberal Democrats, joins a chorus of experts, doctors, and commentators who have this week attacked the coalition’s plans for the NHS. At the weekend, Lib Dem deputy leader, Simon Hughes, told delegates at the Fabian Society conference that there was little prospect of the proposals getting through the Commons in their current form.

David Cameron made a speech on Monday defending the policy while the Bill was published today.

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30 Responses to “Lord Owen turns on coalition health plans”

  1. Alan W

    Will – I think Lord Owen is officially a crossbencher, not a Lib-Dem peer.

  2. Avatar photo

    Will Straw

    Alan – You’re quite right. I was, like so many before me, getting him confused with David Steel who I believe is still involved in Liberal politics. But Owen’s intervention is another blow for Cameron and Lansley’s plans.

  3. John Ruddy

    RT @leftfootfwd: Owen turns on health plans http://bit.ly/fvlDi2 <if LibDems cannot stop changes then they are no longer heirs of Beveridge

  4. Watching You

    RT @leftfootfwd: Lord Owen turns on coalition health plans: http://bit.ly/gHnyTV reports @wdjstraw

  5. L DTUC

    RT @leftfootfwd: Lord Owen turns on coalition health plans: http://bit.ly/gHnyTV reports @wdjstraw

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