Conservative Party proposes a public health commission

The UK Conservative Party has suggested setting up an independent public health commission to improve coordination of national approaches to reducing problems such as smoking and obesity.

Outlining the party's public health strategy last week, the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: “The government has failed to make public health a priority. Existing strategies are fragmented and contradictory.”

He continued: “To ensure a coordinated approach nationally and across government we will bring in a Public Health Act to establish a public health commission. This will be an independent body that will have a similar role, although on public …