Nick Clegg wins first health bill battle – Lib Dems vote to debate Williams health motion, not rebel one – bit.ly/ypXdE4

— AndrewSparrow (@AndrewSparrow) March 10, 2012

But is it the right decision for the party?

Within the last half hour the results of a ballot at the LD spring conference in Gateshead have been announced and represent a victory for the party establishment over many activists.

Delegates were asked to choose between four possible emergency motions on the Lansley NHS changes and by a short whisker the one from veteran ex LAB/SDPer, Shirley Williams has been selected.

The decision means that there will not be a vote on whether the party should oppose the changes in their entirety.

Whether this is right or not I’m not so sure. Politically outright opposition might have been the best move

The LDs love their grandees and, as predicted here yesterday, Shirley Williams is hugely influential.

A mistake? Only time will tell.

@MikeSmithsonOGH