Lib Dems avoid conference grief on NHS

Norman Lamb’s announcement today that the government will re-write regulations on competition in the NHS seals up one source of grief for the Lib Dems ahead of their spring conference this weekend. Activists had been threatening an awkward showdown with the leadership on the section 75 regulations, and instead ministers (its notable that Lib Dem Lamb was sent out to bat for the government today rather than a Conservative) can go to their party and argue that they are keeping check on the Conservatives when it comes to the NHS.

But this has a flipside, which is that the row over secret courts will gain more momentum now activists’ minds are focused. Two emergency motions on the subject have been submitted to the conference committee, so there is little likelihood of the leadership being able to keep this off the conference floor. If it did, arguing that conference already expressed a view in the autumn, the fury from activists would be quite something to behold.