Labour needs to realign its attacks on NHS...

At this morning’s press conference Ed Miliband faced accusations that he was “jumping on the bandwagon” by criticising the Government over its NHS reform.

The press conference was certainly conveniently timed to coincide with the day the Royal College of Nursing passed a motion of no confidence in Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

But coming to the debate late is not the party’s problem. There’ve been Labour people firing attacks against the reforms for months – in particular Liz Kendall, the junior minister (pictured below) behind the Opposition’s assault on key ‘competition’ clauses of the legislation.

The problem is with the substance of their attack and the position from which they’re attacking. Firstly, and this is admittedly quite a tough one to avoid, they are mired in the detail.

Most people in the country don’t understand the structure of the NHS, they don’t know what commissioning is, they don’t know what the reforms mean and so they can’t hope to understand a critique of them.

When journalists think their readers will not take an interest in something that is overly complex – like an Opposition opposing Government legislation in highly technical terms – they will not write about it.

Hence it has taken severe opposition from the medical profession to give hacks something to write about, and a way into the story.

The second issue is the uncertainty about where Labour’s own plans for the NHS would have ended up.

Many on the left of Labour opposed Blairite marketisation of the NHS because they believed it would lead to privatisation – the charge now levied at Cameron’s reforms.

And let’s not forget (the Tories certainly won’t let us) that Labour's 2010 manifesto also states “patients requiring elective care will have the right, in law, to choose from any provider who meets NHS standards of quality at NHS costs”.

Labour is not against a degree of marketisation in the NHS and it would be wise for the party to be true to its manifesto and acknowledge that if they want their attacks to have credibility.

What they really need here is a degree of triangulation – a dirty Blairite word in Labour circles. They need a plan that proposes reform to the NHS, but in a uniquely Labour way.

Their line should be ‘the Tories want to privatise the NHS, unions want to leave things as they are – we want measured change to get efficiency, but only if the services most dear to people are protected' i.e. kept under state control.

Flesh out a little detail and maybe they’ll have a chance of being seen as a party that’s ready to jump into Government, rather than a party that jumps on to bandwagons.

De Piero's first appearance

Gloria De Piero completed her transformation to political animal today when she took up her position on the front benches of the House of Commons for the first time.

A few of the new Labour intake who have sat on the opposition front bench have appeared a little nervous, but De Piero seemed unfazed.

TV journalists tend to have an on-camera “voice” which they slip in to when reporting and De Piero used hers at the despatch box.

It gave her an air of confidence, but she’ll need to back it up with wit if she really wants to stick it to her opposite number.

On the benches behind her were two other MPs who, with De Piero, seem to be an emerging gang which will feature big in Labour’s future.

They were new shadow minister Liz Kendall, who this blog once tipped as a future player, and Tristram Hunt – who knows De Piero from student Labour days.

Former Downing Street spokesman and new shadow minister Michael Dugher, who shares an office with De Piero in Westminster also moves in the circle.

Two future Midlands ministers/shadow ministers...

Travelling around the Midlands I’ve had a chance to meet all manner of candidate – from the “we’re all doomed if he ever gets in” to the “why can’t they all be like that”.

I thought I’d note two that I’ve met who should be ones to watch after May 6. I imagine they might both walk into ministerial or shadow ministerial positions.

First up is Liz Kendall. She is replacing Patricia Hewitt in Leicester West and was also the former health secretary’s special advisor.

She was also a special advisor to Harriet Harman and an associate director at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a favourite Labour think tank.

Despite the stink made by her predecessor Kendall will probably win her seat comfortably, she is defending a majority of 9,070.

I met her for the first time yesterday at a rally where Ed Balls was speaking. She was confident, self assured and not afraid of the press. Why anyone would be I couldn’t say, but many are.

Then there is Karen Bradley who is standing for the Conservatives in Staffordshire Moorlands, she has a tougher fight on her hands to win her seat.

At the last election the constituency was won by Labour’s Charlotte Atkins, but due to boundary changes it is now considered a notional Tory seat.

Bradley was a big hitter for KPMG and worked directly under David Cameron when he was head of policy.

She has also worked for Michael Howard and with George Osborne on the party’s response to the budget and Finance Bill.

She knows her stuff economically and will not be far away from the Treasury team if she gets in.