Has Cameron declared war on the BMA?

At Prime Minister's Questions today, David Cameron complained of "roadblocks" to reform of the NHS, but at first did not refer directly to the BMA.

At Prime Minister’s Questions today, David Cameron complained of “roadblocks” to reform of the NHS, but at first did not refer directly to the British Medical Association; the doctors’ representative body, who called yesterday for the NHS bill to be dumped.

Then, in his answer to Ed Miliband’s final question, he said:

“He should remember the fact that the BMA opposed foundation hospitals, they opposed GP fundholding, they opposed longer opening hours for GPs’ surgeries.

“Isn’t it typical, just as he has to back every other trade union, just as he has no ideas of his own, he comes here and just reads a BMA press release.”  

It’s all a far cry from speeches in the early days of Cameron’s leadership, where he tried to reassure public service workers as to the intentions of a Tory government.

He said:

“I believe that the more you trust people, the stronger they and society become. In the NHS, that means trusting in the expertise and experience of health professionals.”

Considering more than 90 per cent of the British public trust doctors, while barely more than one in ten trust politicians, is the prime minister picking the right enemies?

20 Responses to “Has Cameron declared war on the BMA?”

  1. norbet

    RT @leftfootfwd: Has Cameron declared war on the BMA? http://bit.ly/i4wl1j

  2. blogs of the world

    At Prime Minister's Questions today, David Cameron complained of roadblocks to reform of t… http://reduce.li/230d3s #declared

  3. Look Left – World finally decides to take action against Gaddafi | Left Foot Forward

    […] main domestic story, and the focus of this week’s PMQs, is the future of the NHS – with growing concern at Andrew […]

  4. disgusted

    tell andrew landsley to take off his schoolboy’s hat and short trousers and grow up,and that goes for nick clegg too.

  5. Lansley in denial over level of opposition to reforms | Left Foot Forward

    […] course if all else fails David Cameron could simply call all these groups “roadblocks” to reform; but how long can they keep up this defence, and the pretence that professional […]

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