‘Kill the NHS bill’ bid fails

A BID to allow Liberal Democrats to vote against a controversial shake-up of the NHS in England has failed.

Campaigners against the health reforms won enough support to have their “kill the bill” emergency motion debated at the party’s spring conference. But under the party’s alternative vote system, the attempt failed on second preferences.

Instead, a rival motion on the Health and Social Care Bill that calls on Lib Dems to support the changes was selected.

The bill aims to give GPs control of much of the NHS budget and would open up the health service to greater competition from the private and voluntary sector.

The legislation was “paused” after the party’s spring conference last year amid a furious backlash. It has since been amended more than 1,000 times, but many prominent health organisations remain fiercely opposed to the plans.

The failure of the motion will comes as a relief to party leader Nick Clegg.