Andy Burnham, who was revealed as John Healey’s replacement today, warned that if the Bill goes through unchanged the NHS will ‘never be the same again’.
He said the NHS is his passion and he will defend it from a ‘dangerous Bill that no-one wants’.
He said: ‘If the Health Bill goes through unchanged, our NHS will never be the same again. The government is threatening to unpick the fabric of our country's best-loved institution and take the N out of NHS.
'My message to ministers is simple: listen to patients and NHS staff and drop these plans or get ready for the fight of your lives.’
Mr Burnham also praised his predecessor Mr Healey for fighting against the NHS reform plans and ‘forcing the pause in the Health Bill’.
He said: ‘I have been so impressed by the way people from all walks of life have come to the defence of the NHS.
‘I intend to keep building this broad coalition and will work with people from across the political spectrum to protect our wonderful NHS for future generations.’
