At the height of the Healthcare Bill’s passage through parliament former Labour Health Secretary Andy Burnham was left looking like an idiot when he declared that the were just “two weeks to save the NHS”. The Bill became an Act and healthcare in Brtiain remained massively centralised and free at the point of entry. Well he’s back, and this this time he “means it”:

2 weeks to save the #NHS (& this time we mean it): Mon 18th March set for Lords debate & vote on s75 regs. Lab tabled 'fatal' motion.

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) March 4, 2013

So was it just spin and bluster last time?

Burnham all but went to ground during the fallout from the Francis Report. Given what happened on their watch up in Staffordshire, he should probably avoid using the words “fatal” and “Labour” in the same sentence. But it’s fine, he really means it “this time”.