Burnham asks if Cameron really wants Lansley “taken out and shot”

Responding to today’s Clarkson-esque briefing against Andrew Lansley from Downing Street, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has asked the PM to confirm or deny the briefing:

“David Cameron must make an urgent statement and clarify whether these remarks come from a rogue source, or reflect his own and majority opinion in 10 Downing Street.

“A campaign is clearly underway to scapegoat Andrew Lansley. But it is David Cameron who has put the NHS on a knife edge and it can’t afford to have a lame-duck Secretary of State in charge who does not have authority and the personal support of the Prime Minister. Rather than looking for someone else to blame, he must now take responsibility for breaking his personal promises to NHS staff.

“The PM promised to listen and only proceed with this re-organisation if he had the support of staff. They are telling him loudly and clearly that he is putting patient care at risk by pressing on with this discredited Health Bill.

“This is the Prime Minister that promised to protect the NHS. People will never forgive him if he puts his political pride before what’s right for the NHS. He must show leadership, grasp the nettle and drop the Bill.”