Former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley ‘blocked Parliamentary debate over NHS lobbyist’

Andrew Lansley was moved from Health Secretary to Commons leader (Getty Images)

The former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley blocked an attempt to hold a Parliamentary debate into the influence of an NHS lobbyist who he has admitted to knowing “over many years”.

Today The Independent revealed that NHS bosses allowed a lobbying company run by John Murray to write a draft report which could help shape future health policy.

But attempts to get the report’s origins debated in Parliament were blocked by Mr Lansley, who is now Leader of the House of Commons and in charge of scheduling legislation and debates.

The issue was raised by the Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt last month.

But Mr Lansley rejected her request replying: “I know John Murray, I know him over many years to be, in personal terms, someone very expert in relation to specialised healthcare issues. The responsibility lies I think with NHS England and it is their job to exercise a dispassionate and impartial approach to the making of policy.”

A spokesman for Mr Lansley said his position had not changed.