NHS Reforms To Become Law After Labour Fails In Last Ditch Attempt To Block Bill

Posted: 20/03/2012 17:48 Updated: 20/03/2012 17:48   PA

Andy Burnham

A last-ditch Labour attempt to block the government's NHS reforms has failed in the Commons by 328 votes to 246, majority 82.

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A last-ditch Labour attempt to block the government's NHS reforms has failed in the Commons by 328 votes to 246, majority 82.
A last-ditch Labour attempt to block the government's NHS reforms has failed in the Commons by 328 votes to 246, majority 82.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dombeyandson
07:33 AM on 03/21/2012
Milliband and co now have a proper adgenda for the next election . Restore unto the National State control that which is for the benefit of the people as a whole and employ tighter controls on entitlement. Send out the bills to those countries whose migrants are blantantly using the services we provide and pay for or indeed send the individual the bill for settlement. This also means a stricter system of recovery of unpaid bills. It is not about control of our lives but the spread of essential services to the people of the UK as of right and not privilege. The first thing to realise is that no profit should be made from Healthcare, primary and secondary education and indeed university level except from overseas recipients. These services have been and are continuously paid for by our taxes in whatever form. Have the courage of your convictions Milliband and Co. The foresight and imagination that founded the NHS in 1947 must not be allowed to fall into the hands of profiteers buying shares and controlling what they see as a golden opportunity to capitalise on others necessity
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepekitch
08:00 AM on 03/21/2012
I thought the nhs was founded 1948 !
08:13 AM on 03/21/2012
Does is really matte?> You have failed to appreciate the contents. I feel sorry for you.
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11:07 AM on 03/21/2012
1947
08:23 AM on 03/21/2012
Very well written. There need to be much more stringent controls on admission, anyone who comes and visits from outside the European Union can access NHS services by going to A&E, they are then lost in the system. There are lots of abuses and we need to wise up.
The NHS is not a charity for all, it is funded by us the taxpayers and it is primarily for our own use and outsiders who can pay for services on production of a valid travel insurance, should be admitted, the others can contact their own consulates to arrange a letter of credit or a form of payment.There was a recent article where some NHS hospitals have treated ousiders and have in the process failed to collect millions of pounds.
07:25 AM on 03/21/2012
Welcome to Camerons britain where the poor will not be treated for any illness but the rich get healthier and wealthier. Those who voted tory should be ashamed of themselves
12:09 AM on 03/21/2012
I am so impressed about the moderating influence of the Lib Dems on the Conservatives. Sorry just realised it does not exist. Shame on you Lib Dems because you will never get this chance again. The next election will wipe you out and good riddance. I always admired your principles but you sold out.
10:15 PM on 03/20/2012
OK Labour, lets see what you are made of.. Make a declaration right now, preforming your next manifesto, by telling the electorate you WILL clear the decks of the NHS by removing ANYTHING the Tories put in place in the next couple of of years.

With that promise, the medical professionals will have advance warning of what they will be faced with under the next labour government, and they can prepare for it well in advance.

Or is that too much of a radical idea for the current Labour party to take on board?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
redsquad
Shootin' from the lip
10:27 PM on 03/20/2012
Andy Burnham has already declared Labour's intent to reverse this bill.

Direct quote: "I can at least say this: that we will repeal this Bill at the first opportunity and restore the N in NHS.‬"
10:41 PM on 03/20/2012
Yes Burnham may say that, but when Labour came in in 1997 with a landslide majority, how much of the stuff left behind by the previous government was ousted orf overturned.

Was the NHS cleared of that internal market or the installed management system? No it wasn't, nor were our taxpayer founded industries taken back in to state hands.

So I am not convinced this present lot in labour, or any that appear at the moment on the horizon, will have the strength of character to put matters right for the general public, come 2015, should labour regain the reins in Westminster..
06:06 AM on 03/21/2012
Yes you are correct, that was the remark at the end of his speach.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepekitch
07:28 AM on 03/21/2012
Oh just like David Cameron said before the election [THERE WILL BE NO TOP DOWN REORGANIZATION OF THE NHS,] YOU CANNOT TRUST THIS GOVERMENT WITH ANYTHING,THEY ARE ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE,LABOUR ALL THE WAY,
10:10 PM on 03/20/2012
This will come back to haunt Cameron and Clegg at the next election,if not before, big time!
11:55 PM on 03/20/2012
Sadly the electorate has a short memory when it comes to a general election. A scenario confirmed many times in recent history, a fact which Cameron is clearly relying on.
06:07 AM on 03/21/2012
local elections are coming, which will show them the extent of the outcry by the voters
09:13 PM on 03/20/2012
as from tomorrow the NHS is up for sale, and the people who are selling it don't use it.
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pepekitch
08:59 PM on 03/20/2012
Untill you need the NHS,it is only then it becomes what treatment for a illness really does mean to you.You will not only have to live in the right post code area you will have to have some money,it will come at a price just like it does at your dentist,they will ask you private or nhs,This may sound like a silly surggesstion but you mark my words,if we are to believe we have nothing to worry about then why wont they publish the risk register??????????????All i can say about those that have voted for this bill should be booted out of their seats ,it is a disgrace how the lib dems have behaved i sincerly hope they loose all their seat never to beable to worsen an already ruthless goverment,Bevan must be turning in hie grave.
08:03 PM on 03/20/2012
328 votes to 246, majority 82.in fravour of change, and the new laws will be passed.
Thats how our democratic process works, with those in the best position to understand the proposals and see the bigger picture, after many hours of discussion voting by a majority for the change, for they see it as being in our nations best interest.
Now the opponents to change, mnanyh with a political agenda, can shout their objections and abuse ,stamp their feet, grind their teeth in frustration, or rattle their cages, but the deed is done, and there is little they can do about it anymore.
Now we can watch to see how it works out, by trial or error and see the consequences with an open mind.We may all be pleasantly surprised and find that none of the speculatave horror story predictions will arise.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
redsquad
Shootin' from the lip
08:13 PM on 03/20/2012
So basically, lump it? Accept a 'law' not in the Queen's Speech... accept that the Lib Dems voted in favour to cling to power as opposed to it being the right thing to do. How sad that you think the NHS is something to take a chance with.

The Poll Tax also became "law" and people didn't just "accept it"... that cost the Tories a PM and ultimately, their jobs. Here's to history repeating.
09:35 PM on 03/20/2012
Well said "Redsquad".
08:21 PM on 03/20/2012
Orrrrrrrh... the trusting naivety of the deferential working class Tory is almost touching isn't it?

Just shake it all up and see how it settles eh?

It's not a lucky dip you fool - us worldly wise types know these so-called "reforms" will inevitably end in tears.
09:27 PM on 03/20/2012
Of course you do , but why don't I believe it? .I will wait and see what develops.
07:51 PM on 03/20/2012
Well them that vote on such issues should have to use the service they guvon ,but they dont have to to they?Harley Street& BUPA for these wags ,so does not matter to them
07:48 PM on 03/20/2012
Watched this latest debate in Parliament this afternoon, Labour stood no chance of getting this through. The risk register is to be kept hidden. Why?!!!!!!! I fear for us the public in the future, now that the NHS is to be decimated, how long before we begin to pay for treatment?
09:39 PM on 03/20/2012
Thats the long term plan Deb. Tories are the masters of Propaganda.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
07:46 PM on 03/20/2012
So much for the opposition and the death knell for the NHS.
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07:33 PM on 03/20/2012
The amount of amendments that have been introduced into this Bill are and the second to none. The trouble is that anywhere there are amendments there is a situation rife for legal action to explore the loopholes in those amendments! This Bill has been RUSHED through and the Coalition have refused point blank to publish the RISK register to allow further scrutiny for ANYONE.

It has already been reported that there is a large legal case brewing in the South West where a large privately owned company was hoping to take over Childcare facilities. It is already saying that the contract it tendered for is now being 'adjusted' and that the NHS is trying to pay less than it contracted for.

This I'm afraid will tipify the nature of services and contractual problems that we will see in the coming years at a MASSIVE cost to US, the general public and taxpayers, to fend off the lawyers of large corporations. Civil litigation may take years and the only people who gain will be corporate lawyers!
08:55 PM on 03/20/2012
As far as I know there were no amendments made. It was a Lib Dem trick for whats left of there voters. Truth is it was a coalition con.
07:06 PM on 03/20/2012
you tossers
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tc-byrne
Victoria Concordia Crescit
06:16 PM on 03/20/2012
Failed when in goverment, failing in opposition,
R.I.P. Labour.
07:07 PM on 03/20/2012
tory party idiot no doubt
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tc-byrne
Victoria Concordia Crescit
08:39 PM on 03/20/2012
You must be one of Mrs thatchers incomprehensibles no doubt. so they didn't fail in goverment, and their not failing as a creditable opposition, and you call me an idiot;
there's nothing more elusive than an obvious fact, and you prove that point.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
redsquad
Shootin' from the lip
07:07 PM on 03/20/2012
Yes, it's Labour's fault the Lib Dems have no conscience and will do anything to cling to power...

Keep thinking that and we'll have the Tories in forever... I'm sure Cameron will be delighted with your misdirection while he sleezes his NHS bill onto the books.
07:23 PM on 03/20/2012
Couldn't agree with you more
08:07 PM on 03/20/2012
Yep redsquad your right about the Liberals, but not all of them voted with the Goverment for this Idiotic BILL. John Pugh MP (Lib) really fought to try and get it out. He put some good questions to the Secretary of State for Health (can't demean myself by speaking his name)l during the debate this afternoon. But none of it has made any difference, the changes to the NHS have been getting implemented for over a year. Well before this Bill was rushed through. Then again we do all live in a Democracy!!!!!!!!!! Don't we??????