He didn't make an mistake.  He's far too clever for that.  He knew what he was saying and he thought he knew how the audience would react to the spin about the wonderful improvements which he and New Labour have wrought in the NHS.

What he said was directly intended for electoral gain in the forthcoming election, at any cost.   Truth was the casualty once again.

But what chance has John Reid when his leader, the equally Rt Hon. Anthony Blair, who occupies the greatest office in the land as Prime Minister is an inveterate liar himself.   It has even been suggested elsewhere, by individual physicians, that there may be something pathological in his case.

Blair lied about his reason for going to war in Iraq.   There never was any evidence of WMDs and none have been found.  Yet we went to war on that trumped up "evidence" and afterwards he set up an enquiry under a chosen Chairman, with a close remit - Lord Hutton - who dutifully whitewashed Blair and his cronies.

More recently, in the ongoing childish spat between himself and the other great office holder, Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Blair lied to Parliament, denying what Brown had told him.   Brown, seething at being denied his turn as Prime Minister, despite Blair's assurances, told the PM that he could could never believe a word the PM ever told him again.

And, of course, by extension, neither should the population of this country.    

It now turns out that there is a tape recording of the Chancellor making that expostulation to Blair.

So, what chance has John Reid, just another liar in a sleazy government of cheats, liars and spinners.

Mr Reid told the interviewer on Today that the average GP consulting time now, under New Labour, was 14 minutes per patient and getting longer.  Up from 9 minutes before their great government came to power.

Since that time, the programme has been besieged by angry GPs denying the claim.   The most recent was Dr Mary Church, a GP  negotiator, who suggested this morning that there were no consultation times of 14 minutes in Reid's constituency, and she should know because she is a GP there.   She went on to invite him to visit her practice.  There is no doubt that Reid does not have the decency or courage to accept the invitation.  Nor will he apologise.  There is no track record in this government for apologies, as those who have followed Blair's career will understand.

Dr Church was not the only one to protest.   John Reid did not have the backing of his own government's GP "Tsar", Dr Colin-Thome, who distanced himself from Reid's lie.   As did Dr John Campbell, professor of General Practice at the Peninsular Medical School, Exeter who was amazed that the Secretary of State made important statements based on rough surveys.

Maybe John Reid did not lie but the alternative is that he is just plain incompetent.   I tend to believe he lied and deliberately intended to deceive.   He is a major politician, a Labour bruiser, one who thinks carefully before he speaks although his inbuilt arrogance does sometimes get the better of him.

Doctors will be watching for similar lies as the General Election approaches.  They are inevitable and they will get bigger.

Beware.

(22/1/05)