Ms MacDonald, who has Parkinson's disease, told BBC Scotland the membership of the cross-party health committee had been chosen prior to her bill being introduced and included two doctors, who had each come down on either side of the argument.

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If plans, backed by Mr Blair, to widen the membership of the party's National Executive Committee proposed this summer go forward, the unions will cease to choose a majority of its membership too.

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But many conservative committee members accuse Steele of being too moderate to lead the party, pointing to his recent membership in the Republican Leadership Council, a group that sought to marginalize social conservatives.

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