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Nick Clegg has defended the coalition's controversial NHS Bill during fiery exchanges with Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman in the Commons.
Standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the Lib Dem deputy prime minister said Andrew Lansley's Health and Social Care Bill would deliver a "more equal" NHS.
But Harman said Clegg should tell Lib Dem peers in the House of Lords to vote against the legislation on Monday in order to make sure it did not become law.
"People are still against this bill because it hasn't changed one bit," she said. "It's still a top down reorganisation."
She told MPs: "He could stop the bill but he wont. He says the Lib Dems make a difference but they don't. What has happend to that fine liberal tradition? They must be turning in their graves."
The Labour Party has been strongly lobbying to get the government to scrap its controversial health reforms which they say are too expensive and introduce too much private competition.
Harman said that Clegg was refusing to "stand up for the NHS" as "the only thing he stands up for is when the prime minister walks in the room".
Clegg hit back by accusing Labour of creating "sweetheart deals" for private sector providers in the NHS while in power, which the coalition was now scrapping.
"The shadow health secretary says it is irresponsible to increase NHS spending. They don't believe in more money for the NHS, we do," he said.
"They presided over inequality in the NHS which again we are making a statutory obligation in this bill to deliver a more equal outcome."
He added: "The Labour Party used to believe in reform, now they believe in starving the NHS of cash and failing to provide reform."
Clegg also dismissed accusations that his party had failed to influence the direction of the Bill.
"Some of her colleagues must think the Lib Dems make a difference because they were handing out leaflets in the conference in Gateshead while her leader was throwing a sickie and going to watch Hull City instead," he said.
Ed Miliband was recently criticised for saying he could not attend a rally on health care because he was ill but then deciding to go to a football match.
| @ TimMontgomerie : Hostile #PMQs to Clegg from Tory backbenchers: Redwood on regulations, Lilley on Lords reform, @DouglasCarswell on child benefit |
| @ JoeMurphyLondon : Also interesting how many Tories are tweeting praise of Clegg #pmqt |
| @ trsmith87 : Best PMQs for a while. Proper knock about. #pmqs |
| @ dylsharpe : Unmemorable #PMQs. Clegg did well to repel the qus, when not angry. Harman good at condemning, but may regret tactic of slaughtering the LDs |
| @ Lobbydog : Clegg doesn't even pretend to sidestep the NI question from Skinner. Just completely ignores it. #pmqs |
| @ jamesrbuk : An unusually even-tempered intervention from Dennis Skinner there. Or not. #pmqs |
| @ georgeeaton : Clegg says boundary changes are a cause close to the Tories' heart. Hint that it's not close to his? #PMQs |
| @ AnushkaAsthana : Harriet Harman says only thing Clegg stands up for is when the PM walks into the room. BOOM BOOM! #PMQs (Clegg getting angry - love it!) |
| @ GraemeDemianyk : Tory Cabinet ministers Gove, Spelman and Lansley standing in shadows at #pmqs not looking entirely convinced by the Clegg show |
| @ JohnHigginson : Clegg's fourth outing at PMQs is his best yet. Harman's got lots to throw at him but nothing sticking. #pmqs |
| @ EmmaFrancesCarr : Clegg is doing really well. Surprisingly well. #pmqs |
| @ amyelizjackson : Hattie H sounds less shrill than usual. Maybe she learned something from The Iron Lady. #dpmqs |
| @ James_Macintyre : Bizarre: Clegg attacking Labour from the left on NHS privatisation while sitting with Tories. |
| @ toadmeister : @EdBallsMP seems remarkably subdued. No flatlining hand gestures. Has Harriet Harman told him to rein it in? #pmqs |
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| @ TimMontgomerie : I always get the feeling that Labour's attacks on Cameron are business but when they go for Clegg it's personal #PMQs |
| @ openurmindnsee : balls has written harman questions, yes? #pmqs |
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| @ JohnHigginson : Harman kicks off with unemployment saying women are hardest hit. Clegg (doing very well so far) says went up under Labour by 20% #pmqs |
| @ alexforrestitv : Liz Kendall asks Clegg what went wrong with our economy. He says Labour Govt. #pmqs |
Labour MP Liz Kendall kicks off the questions by asking "what's gone wrong" with the economy.
Clegg says what went wrong "was the Labour governments for thirteen years creating the most unholy mess in 2008".
| @ joncraig : Full house for Clegg PMQs on LibDem benches below gangway too. Whole House pretty packed despite PM away in US. Lots of LibDem MPs rising! |
| @ HumeBrophy : Cameron’s spokeswoman tells The Sun’s Whitehall Correspondent "I'm sure the Deputy PM is more than qualified to fill [his] shoes at #PMQs” |
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| @ joncraig : LibDems out in force for Clegg PMQs. Danny Alexander & Michael Moore in plum seats on front bench, edging out Ken Clarke & Philip Hammond. |
| @ PoliticalYeti : Cringing already and #PMQs hasn't even started. Fear the DPM will take a hammering from all sides. |
| @ pamela_nash : Flashing my ankles in #PMQs today. Hope @Toadmeister can cope. |
| @ worgztheowl : Lucky for @Ed_Miliband that Dave's away, he'd have so much to go on he wouldn't know what to ask first. #pmqs |
| @ petermbarrett : Willing to bet #Harman tries a 'gag' around #Cameron having been at a baseball game. Something about Coaltion 'swinging and missing' #pmqs |
| @ JonNarcross : Always worth tuning in for... RT @cptjamesmartin The legendary Dennis Skinner MP due to speak on #PMQs at 12:00 |
Margot James: Tackling Vested Interests in the NHS
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annesnelgrove
@GwynneMP @KarlTurnerMP @Ed_Miliband Hah! You didn't have to prepare for PMQs & go in the car with GB!
8 hours ago from TweetDeck
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RicHolden
.@labourpress following @angelaeagle's "logic" Ed Miliband is also missing/dodging PMQs - because Parliament's not sitting. #LabourLogic
14 hours ago from web
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labourpress
That's not how you spell absence @RicHolden. And you're wrong on the stats too. @angelaeagle right to point out Cameron missing PMQs. Again.
14 hours ago from web
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daily_politics
Parliament heads into recess, so no PMQs @afneil @Jo_Coburn for a while: Next #bbcsp on June 2, next #bbcdp on June 3, next #PMQs on June 5
15 hours ago from web
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| angelaeagle Cameron is running scared from PMQs and a rebellious parliament - my piece on Cameron dodging PMQs again: http://t.co/RMWMvwPl0R | ||
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IanDunt
Everything Cameron does at the moment looks fearful: Avoiding PMQs, drafting knee-jerk legislation, sending begging letters to Tory members
16 hours ago from TweetDeck
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paulwaugh
Another week, another recess. On PolHome's @CentralLobby, Angela Eagle says Cam 'running scared' from PMQs http://t.co/uAIQaywEgv
16 hours ago from web
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labourpress
Cameron is running scared from PMQs and a rebellious parliament - @angelaeagle on Cameron dodging PMQs again: http://t.co/ifEinii02o
16 hours ago from web
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politicshomeuk
.@angelaeagle tells PoliticsHome David Cameron is "running scared" of PMQs and a rebellious parliament. http://t.co/N9re4UJ2sh
16 hours ago from bitly
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labourpress
Another week, another Tory rebellion, another recess,& another Wed w/out PMQs. Meanwhile, weak Cameron writes begging letter to Tory members
20 hours ago from web
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| RobWilson_RDG I wonder what hand signals Ed Balls will do at #PMQs now that #OBR tells us the economy is growing? How do you do a reverse hand signal? | ||
| drwollastonmp I've been 'barnacled' ; but still trying to get the appointment promised at PMQs to discuss Public Health strategy | ||
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MirrorJames
David Cameron's going to have a really tough PMQs this week - oh, no, scrap that #recessagain
1 day ago from web
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| rookiemoms HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO @rookiewhitney http://t.co/dPMQsxc9Ib | ||
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daily_politics
After Tuesday DP and the recess: the first #bbcsp will be June 2, first #bbcdp on June 3, and first #PMQs on June 5
2 days ago from web
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| AnneMcGuireMP Deleting PMQs 4 Wednesday on B\berry. It comes up "delete this occurrence" or "delete the series".Tempted to do latter as PM is never there! | ||
Posted: 14/03/2012 13:06 Updated: 14/03/2012 13:06