Blair makes final bid to win backing for NHS plan

Tony Blair will meet Labour MPs today in a last-ditch attempt to persuade them to back the Government's foundation hospitals plans in the Commons.

The Prime Minister will meet backbenchers with Alan Milburn, the Health secretary, amid fears that the Tories will vote against the Health and Social Care Bill at its second reading. More than 130 Labour MPs have signed a motion opposing the foundation plans, which would free hospitals from Whitehall control and allow them flexibility on pay and borrowing.

Both Mr Blair and Mr Milburn made strong appeals to wavering MPs to back the Government, declaring that the proposals were central to New Labour's public service reform programme.

In a speech to the Newspaper Society in London, Mr Blair said "we have got to be the reformers" on the NHS, criminal justice and education in order to prevent the Tories from privatising services.

He said money pumped in had made a difference in new hospitals, school buildings and computers, and record numbers of police. "But it isn't enough. And particularly when people's taxes have just risen to fund the NHS, people expect and deserve more. There is progress, but increasingly it is clear we now face a choice as a government and country ... the choice is whether to follow through the logic of these changes properly," he said.

Widening his theme to cover all public services, particularly changes to speed up the courts system, the Prime Minister went on: "These reforms all have one common purpose – to open the system, change the 'one size fits all' concept of public services, give the parent or patient more choice and a better service, and allow the professionals the flexibility and freedom they need. Foundation hospitals are just one part of these reforms. We need to drive the same principles however, through all parts of our public services.

"It is up to government and frontline staff alike to show that money matched with reform can deliver results."

Mr Milburn predicted the Government would win today's vote. "I think people will see reforms are necessary and it would be a mistake, a big political mistake, to back away from reform," he said.