Clegg aide threatens to quit over health reforms

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they were going to “pause” the health reforms amid widespread opposition among NHS professionals, patients groups and rank-and-file Lib Dems.

A series of listening events are to take place across the country over the coming weeks as Mr Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley seek to demonstrate they are taking criticism and advice on board.

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Mr Lamb said he welcomed that “period of reflection”, adding: “It should be possible for me to speak out about what I think should happen – evolution not revolution.

“That way I think the Government can get itself off the hook that it is on at the moment, it can get a lot of professionals back on board, and most of all it can reduce the financial risk.”

Asked whether it could be a resignation issue, he said: “I’ve said if it’s impossible for me to carry on in my position I will step down, I don’t want to cause embarrassment, but I feel very strongly about this issue.

“And I think it’s in the Government’s interest to get it right in the way that I suggest.”

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Challenged that it would be destabilising to the Government if he walked out, he added: “It would be incredibly destabilising politically if we get this reform wrong.”

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Mr Lamb’s comments were “very significant indeed”. “Clearly Norman is very close to Nick Clegg, he’s his closest political and parliamentary adviser,” he told The Politics Show.

“He made a very important point, which is that we shouldn’t see reform as always good. There are good reforms and there are bad reforms.

“These are bad reforms, they are not popular, they won’t work, they will be destabilising financially and also in terms of treatment.”

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Further pressure on the Government came today from 1,200 Lib Dem members who have signed a petition urging ministers to implement amendments demanded by their recent spring conference.

Evan Harris, vice-chair of the party’s federal policy committee, said the petition would support Lib Dems MPs in their negotiations with the Tories.

“This petition is something that our leadership can point to when dealing with the Tories as an aid to explaining that the Lib Dems are a democratic party which will not accept its MPs and peers voting against our policy and against the coalition agreement, and that we will protect the NHS from the market reforms,” he said.

Comment: Page 10.