Morning Report: April 4th

Reports this morning suggest that David Cameron is kicking NHS reform into the long grass in the face of “insurmountable opposition”. Today that even includes Lord Tebbit arguing against the reforms in the Daily Mirror. Read that sentence back again – that’s how strong the opposition to these plans is. He does have some support, but it’s from uber-privatiser John Redwood so that’s hardly helpful. A delay of three months is planned, but – remarkably – that will mean that the NHS will need to re-hire some staff members who have already been let go. What a shambles.

The health secretary Andrew Lansley has spent much of the past few weeks suggesting that he’s not for turning (to borrow a phrase) and that these reforms will go ahead. It now seems that whilst Lansley may not be for turning, Cameron certainly is. This “delay”, may be the perfect opportunity for Cameron to move Lansley to a different cabinet post, and replace him with someone whose plans are less dangerous – both to the NHS and electorally. Meanwhile Ed Miliband will look to seize on the disarray by making a speech on NHS reform to the RSA this morning. You can read what he’s expected to say here.

Elsewhere, Andy Burnham has written for the Guardian on how the coalition is “blighting young people’s life chances”, Labour will be bringing an opposition day motion on police cuts, and the government will reveal just how many members of the forces are about to lose their jobs.