THE flagship NHS shake-up is savaged by a Tory-led committee of MPs today – just hours after the government was forced to slam the brakes on its progress, to calm public fears.

Key parts of the Health and Social Care Bill are torpedoed by the Commons health select committee, which warns of lax controls over £60bn of taxpayers’ cash and of free competition harming care.

The damning report comes after Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced a “natural break” in the Bill’s passage, to “pause, listen and engage” to counter a rising tide of criticism.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg are expected to appear on stage together, amid briefings that No.10 is seizing control of the controversy and freezing out the under-fire Mr Lansley.

The move has fuelled expectations a major climbdown is looming. No Cabinet ministers were in the Commons to offer support to the Health Secretary yesterday.

Today’s report urges Mr Lansley to:

Abandon plans to put consortia of GPs in sole charge of commissioning treatment, demanding a beefed-up role for hospital doctors, nurses, public health experts and local councillors on “accountable” boards.