Lansley gives us a nudge

Andrew Lansley’s rhetoric is strident: ‘It’s time for politicians to stop telling people to make healthy choices. Rather than lecturing people about their habits we will give them the support they need… we will support leadership from within communities.’

One could be forgiven for thinking that the Health White Paper will inaugurate a completely new dawn. It doesn’t. Many of Lansley’s initiatives are resuscitated Labour policies: taxes on alcohol and tobacco and incentivising healthy living through choice are tried and tested formulas that have had limited past success in every field bar raising revenue.

Lansley’s White Paper is not a testament of radicalism, but it is quietly revolutionary nonetheless. Of all government ministers, Lansley has the best lines in the language of decentralisation. His actions realise his words. He has already taken GPs commissioning from central NHS Trust managers. Now he has decided to take responsibility for public health from the NHS and give it to local councils.