Labour scored a symbolic victory in the historic fight to save the NHS yesterday as MP Clive Efford took a bonesaw to the Con-Dems’ sell-off schemes.

Not a single senior minister turned up to defend the government’s hated Health and Social Care Act in the face of Mr Efford’s back-bench bill.

He landed a terminal blow on coalition competition rules by leading 240 more MPs through the lobbies to ensure his Bill continues its progress through Parliament.