Why has the Health and Social Care Bill stalled? Is it really for a listening exercise, as the prime minister would have us believe? Or is David Cameron simply buying time to rid the nation of an increasingly unpopular health secretary in a mini shuffle?
The bill is the one issue that truly divides the coalition, with deputy prime minister Nick Clegg at the weekend hailing the latest changes to the initial proposals, leaving Andrew Lansley (pictured) with the gait of a dead man limping.
It is clear that the damage caused to the coalition by the bill as well as some of the campaigning by the "No" camp in the alternative vote referendum needs to be mended.
What better an opportunity for Cameron to woo disaffected Lib Dems and disarm Labour leader Ed Miliband's weekend courting of them by bringing in a big beast from the centre (if such a creature exists). Ministers of whom Margaret Thatcher tired were unceremoniously despatched to the Northern Ireland office. On recent performances, Lansley would count himself lucky to get Sark. He is surely about to go back to his constituency and prepare for non-government.
The biggest name to replace him would probably be business secretary Vince Cable. Such a switch would remove a prickly thorn from the prime minister's hip bone, now showing signs of wear and tear after being joined to Clegg's for a year. It would also send a message to the Lib Dems that their party can lead government policy in important areas.
But a less obvious choice was alluded to in The Guardian's politics blog: David Laws. The erstwhile rising star of the Lib Dems resigned from the government 17 days after the coalition formed over breaching expenses rules.
He referred himself to the parliamentary standards commissioner whose verdict is expected this week.
A sympathetic ruling could see the former Treasury No 2 back in government in a pivotal role and could prove crucial to patching up the coalition.
For now.
Picture: Richard Gardner/Rex Features
