Burnham follows unions over health reforms

Outside Labour Party leadership contender Andy Burnham has called on all Liberal Democrat Mps to reject the coalition government ’ s health reforms, which put the majority of spending decisions back into the hands of GPs.

Mr Burnham, who, according to a recent YouGov survey, is enjoying dimishing support in his bid for the party leadership, has written to Lib Dems, saying: "You hold the key to the future of our NHS. People who voted for you at the election did not vote for such a radical break-up plan. I urge you to listen to them and stand up for our NHS in the face of this attack, which threatens to unpick its very fabric."

The ex-health secretary’s stance mimics that of public sector union UNISON, which has recently launched a legal attack on the government around proposed reforms which will drastically change the way the NHS procures goods and services.