Lansley needs to explain his reforms better

It is imperative that the coalition keeps its nerves and its composure during the months ahead. 2011 will try the coalition’s fortitude, its deficit reduction plan and its public service reform programme will both come under sustained attack. It is vital that the coalition continues to explain clearly and patiently why it is doing what it is doing.

Watching the Andrew Marr show this morning, I was struck by how tetchy Andrew Lansley was during his interview. Right from the off, he seemed irritated at Marr’s questions. Some of this irritation was understandable. Lansley’s reforms are always treated as if they have come out of the blue, when Lansley talked extensively about most of them in opposition.

But there is a problem for the coalition that it can’t explain simply and clearly why it is making these changes to the NHS. This creates a gap that those critical of the reforms are eagerly trying to fill.