Yvette Cooper appointed as new health secretary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Yvette Cooper as the new health secretary.

Number 10 confirmed that the former foreign secretary and MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley will serve as health secretary in the new administration.

She will succeed James Murray, who was appointed to the role in May following Wes Streeting’s resignation.  

Mr Murray said: ‘Huge congratulations to Yvette Cooper on becoming health and social care secretary. It is an immense honour to served in that role since May.

‘I know Yvette will do a brilliant job, as part of a Government under Andy that puts the care of people at the heart of everything it does.’

Ms Cooper became in MP in 1997 and has since held a variety of roles including health minister, housing minister, chief secretary to the Treasury, home secretary and work and pensions secretary.

BMA council deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick said: ‘We welcome Yvette Cooper to the role of Health Secretary and hope to work constructively with her to address the many issues facing doctors, patients, the health service and the health of the nation.

‘As Secretary of State, she has an opportunity to reset relations with the NHS workforce, which will require action to reverse both pay erosion and the undermining of the profession, which has seen doctors forced onto the picket line in recent years.

‘GPs in England continue to take collective action, but the change in Health Secretary provides a critical opportunity to reset, solving the dispute and channelling a path that delivers for practices and patients, and assures the future of general practice as we know it.’

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