Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health?

Health secretary Andrew Lansley strenuously denied any links to private health today, telling MPs he had “no connection” with private healthcare companies. This despite strong evidence to the contrary, which we’ll come to shortly.

First, the question that so enraged Mr Lansley (Con, South Cambs), asked by Kerry McCarthy (Labour, Bristol East):

“In the wake of the defence secretary’s resignation, and the fact that 40 peers who voted on the health bill have got private sector health interests and given the Secretary of State’s own known connections with private healthcare companies, can the Secretary of State assure the House that he has been as transparent as possible about the influence of private healthcare companies on the passage of the health bill?”

At which he raged:

“I think the Hon. Lady should withdraw that. I have no connection with private healthcare companies and if I had so I would have entered it in the Register of Members’ Interests.”

Watch it:

Now, to the facts; let’s start with no less a source than the Daily Telegraph, which last January disclosed:

Andrew Lansley bankrolled by private healthcare provider…

John Nash, the chairman of Care UK, gave £21,000 to fund Andrew Lansley’s personal office in November. Mr Nash, a private equity tycoon, also manages several other businesses providing services to the NHS and stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Conservative policies to increase the use of private health providers.

All very below board - even more so when one fast forwards a year to February 2011, when the Sunday Mirror revealed:

A private health firm with close Tory links has won a £53million prison hospitals contract… despite an NHS bid offering a better service.

Care UK’s then boss John Nash and wife Caroline donated £200,000 to the Conservatives before the general election, including £21,000 to health secretary Andrew Lansley’s private office.

Now the company has won the huge contract to run health services for 5,000 prisoners at eight jails in north east England - with its cheaper, lower quality bid.

On Left Foot Forward, we’ve also long highlighted the health secretary’s links to private health (see links below).

For more, see this short film from our friends at Spinwatch; it takes you on a tour of the offices of just some of these healthcare companies, agencies and think tanks surrounding Parliament, all of which are lobbying to fundamentally change the NHS in their own interests – all of them supporters of Andrew Lansley and David Cameron:

As the film reveals, some of Lansley and Cameron’s backers have spoken of “denationalisation”, and called the NHS an “abhorrence”.

That the health secretary can address Parliament, and state with a straight face he has “no connection with private healthcare companies” beggars belief; with each passing day, the coalition’s health reforms look more and more like government of the private healthcare companies, by the private healthcare companies, for the private healthcare companies.

See also:

• Lansley told to his face why his NHS reforms are wrong, wrong, wrong – Shamik Das, October 14th 2011

• Exposed: Lansley’s NHS reform cheerleaders – Tamasin Cave, March 16th 2011

• Lanlsley’s latest sop to private health should come as no surprise – Tamasin Cave, January 28th 2011

• Under the microscope: Lansley’s private healthcare supporters – Tamasin Cave, January 19th 2011

• Lansley’s links with health insurance industry – Tamasin Cave, October 6th 2010

http://twitter.com/rfrst/status/126404909535989760 Robert Frost

"Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? " -> http://t.co/xMSCUsbw #tories #corpocracy #voteofnoconfidence
http://twitter.com/rosiejanele/status/126406511923691520 Jane Leach

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/5QGNx7oy #wrb
http://twitter.com/jamesrupa/status/126417837458849792 James Rupa

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/matthewhoulihan/status/126419103060733952 Matthew Houlihan

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/deedeegy/status/126421841601503232 dianedalziel

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/1KUGtTwL | #SaveTheNHS #KeepOurNHSpublic
http://twitter.com/staffsunison/status/126441290295549953 Staffordshire UNISON

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/hKBjfiyL by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/glenchisholm/status/126457995549884417 Glen Chisholm

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/5QGNx7oy #wrb
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/126462950562217986 paulstpancras

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/shAEEoRr #NHS
http://twitter.com/csignals/status/126476794168754176 csignals

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/allysonwilsonco/status/126510664532504576 Allyson Wilson

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? | Left … http://t.co/i8IYAvj6
http://twitter.com/macinpoole/status/126557031447543808 malcolm

http://t.co/bx3idsAH
This is what we are up against SAVE THE NHS
http://twitter.com/kstants/status/126564395412234240 kstants

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/5QGNx7oy #wrb
http://twitter.com/akicif/status/126579442100346880 Steve Glover

Fox gone, Could Lansley be next? #NHS #CareUK http://t.co/PLvEteni
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/126589166501888000 Daniel Elton

@SaveTheNHS @NHSactNow @unisontweets @MaryxMaguire – Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/Q5u9PRgA
http://twitter.com/powerbase/status/126593245135388672 Powerbase

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? Left Foot Forward. See also Spinwatch's health lobbying film http://t.co/QnUUq7JH
http://twitter.com/spinwatch/status/126593248536965120 Spinwatch

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? Left Foot Forward. See also Spinwatch's health lobbying film http://t.co/SjpEqSgC
http://twitter.com/amosmallard/status/126595756281966593 Amos Mallard

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? Left Foot Forward. See also Spinwatch's health lobbying film http://t.co/SjpEqSgC
http://twitter.com/mywifeisjoanie/status/126599636747165697 Tom Robins

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? Left Foot Forward. See also Spinwatch's health lobbying film http://t.co/SjpEqSgC
http://twitter.com/janiesu/status/126599775461191680 Jane Shaw

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/6jsvPTyY
http://twitter.com/mywifeisjoanie/status/126604145435213824 Tom Robins

@grahamemorris Why no scandal? Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? Spinwatch's lobbying film http://t.co/mRdA56gw
http://twitter.com/unisonournhs/status/126616311773151232 UNISON Health

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? #healthbill #peerpressure http://t.co/qOckLqG7
http://twitter.com/unisontweets/status/126618625573519360 UNISON – the union

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/adyjclarke/status/126619080881999872 ady

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/zTSA5kQS
http://twitter.com/cretinate/status/126619192932843520 Aaron Chandra

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/cllrmc/status/126619397489045504 CllrSarahMcStravick

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/redtrainers/status/126619428065513472 Jon Squires

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/mr_pukeko/status/126620507608055808 Matt Jeffs

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/gleneral/status/126620537056280576 Glen Owen

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/towerhamunison/status/126621030847492097 Tower Hamlets Unison

Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/d7OS7zZ2 via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/unisonroger/status/126621563230502912 Roger McKenzie

RT @unisontweets: Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/XyTwG5TJ via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/dubious1977/status/126660323880087552 David Dubost

RT @savethenhs: Lansley links to private healthcare documented on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/pauSfXaz via @danielelton #savethenhs
http://twitter.com/gilulaarc/status/126680014983921664 Gilula Arc

@PeteDeveson please ask about his deal/sponsorship from CareUk http://t.co/dGzI67Z5
http://twitter.com/nobiggovduh/status/126691644169912320 NoBigGovDuh

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/julietsh/status/126703194624626688 JulietSh

Has Lansley misled the House over his links to private health? (Clue: yes) http://t.co/FEHWL1TM #SaveThe NHS
http://twitter.com/dumphimlove/status/126703763040894977 Barbara Green

Has Lansley misled the House over his links to private health? (Clue: yes) http://t.co/FEHWL1TM #SaveThe NHS
http://twitter.com/steand/status/126712486408896512 ste

Has Lansley misled the House over his links to private health? (Clue: yes) http://t.co/FEHWL1TM #SaveThe NHS
http://twitter.com/unisonhousing/status/126713262963310593 UNISON Housing Assoc

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? #healthbill #peerpressure http://t.co/qOckLqG7
http://twitter.com/iforstergrnpty/status/126760541627760641 Ian Forster

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/pbjsDNIH
http://twitter.com/colette2820/status/126788185295552512 colette

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/debq/status/126799824761798656 Debbie Quinn

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/VM1Cn3xb
http://twitter.com/shezzle0/status/126931595893538816 Shez

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled House over links to private health? http://t.co/3H3ybUyE <Lying is his default mode #saveournhs #nhs
http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/126933739224829952 #pressreform

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/fd1JOGG5
http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/126935076528328704 Pen

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/fd1JOGG5
http://twitter.com/salardeen/status/126935111345246208 salardeen

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/fd1JOGG5
http://twitter.com/macinpoole/status/126936181031174145 malcolm

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled House over links to private health? http://t.co/3H3ybUyE <Lying is his default mode #saveournhs #nhs
http://twitter.com/pchallinor/status/126949070479695873 Philip Challinor

RT @leftfootfwd: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/fd1JOGG5
http://twitter.com/valleys_boy/status/127111898083766272 Stephen

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? http://t.co/z3sV9EkR by @ShamikDas #SaveTheNHS
http://twitter.com/sueihaworth/status/127435253211074561 Sue Haworth

Could we have been misled over links to Private health? http://t.co/qXEt4V4g #NHS
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/look-left-21-10-11/ Look Left – Libya, a nation reborn | Left Foot Forward

[...] Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? – Shamik Das Share | Permalink | Leave a comment Comments > [...]
http://twitter.com/lescromps/status/131703814892953600 Lescromps

Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/nmB2fNql #saveournhs #UKuncut
http://twitter.com/nemesisrepublic/status/131704656220000257 Nemesis Republic

RT @Lescromps: Has Lansley misled the House over links to private health? | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/WiwwX8Wo #saveournhs #UKuncut
http://twitter.com/gilulaarc/status/164837232954441729 Gilula Arc

@Lala_Lansley Had any bonus cheques from CareUK lately? Better use the Redknapp defence http://t.co/dGzI67Z5
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/172296243811336192 Will Straw

@polkyth Yep: http://t.co/9eFlf1uj