Milburn withdraws the Blairite seal of approval

Alan Milburn’s article for the Telegraph this morning is a rhetorical blitzkreig against the coalition and their NHS reforms. From its opening shot that “The Government health reforms are the biggest car crash in NHS history,” to its closing call for Labour to “restake its claim to be the party of progressive, radical reform,” it is searing stuff. And no-one is spared, least of all Andrew Lansley and his “foolish bout of policy-wonking”. Such fierce language is unusual, even by the standards of cross-party rough ‘n’ tumble. What makes it extraordinary is that Milburn is employed by the government to work on their social mobility agenda. The coalition’s last report on the matter even expanded and prolonged his role.

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“Still,” you say, “Milburn’s a Labour man, so attacking non-Labour men is what he does.”