Lansley-a maverick or a stooge for Cameron?

Andrew Lansley's interview with the Times yesterday in which has aroused a great deal of controversy not least within the Tory party itself.

He promised an extra £28b of spending on the health service,that works out 2% above the Labour party's current levels.At the same time he admitted that the Tories had not broadened their appeal wide enough to win the next election.

Shadow chanellor George Osbourne came out later saying that yes he would increase spending but only as a proportion of GDP and refused to put a % figure on it.

Ben Brogan says his comments have

tested Shadow Cabinet harmony because he makes the consequential point that other areas will have to suffer cuts, but doesn't say which ones. They feel that Mr Lansley is abusing his position as one of the Untouchables - George Osborne is another - who have been guaranteed their jobs by Mr Cameron until the next election and beyond

Fraser Nelson is reminded of another politician who made promises

Eight years ago, Tony Blair sat on Sir David Frost’s sofa and pledged that Labour would spend 8% of GDP on health. Brown called up afterwards in a fury, saying “you’ve spent my f**king budget”. One wonders what David Cameron said to Andrew Lansley after his Times interview where he says 11% of GDP should be spent on health

Writing in this morning's Telegraph Iain Dale thinks

Perhaps Mr Lansley was having an off day, or the journalists had loosened his tongue to such an extent that he voiced thoughts that would normally be expected to have emerged from Oliver Letwin

. but reckons that in reality

it is clear that Mr Lansley wished to reinforce David Cameron's message of change. He reckons people want to vote Conservative with their heads, but not yet with their hearts. Demonstrating a huge funding commitment to the soft, cuddly NHS does more than anything to demonstrate that the party really has moved on from its more hard-faced days.

Wahtever the reasons,it is clear that if this was to happen the Tories in the current climate would have to cut other spending,defence would be one option,education or law and order would be another,but surely this would merely upset the party grandeurs.