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James Morris appointed as primary care minister

James Morris appointed as primary care minister

James Morris has been appointed as the new minister for primary care and patient safety.

He replaces Maria Caulfield, who had been primary care minister since September 2021, and will serve in caretaker Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s temporary Cabinet under new health secretary Steve Barclay.

The MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis since 2010, Mr Morris was previously government whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) between 2020 and 2022, and assistant government whip from 2019-2020.

He also backed Mr Johnson in his recent no-confidence vote, describing him as a strong leader.

Mr Morris said on Twitter that he was ‘very honoured’ to be appointed to the new role and is looking ‘forward to working with’ new colleagues. He will leave his role as government whip.

He will also appear before the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee on Tuesday morning, to be questioned by prime ministerial candidate Jeremy Hunt in the final session of the inquiry into the future of general practice.

As part of his new role, Mr Morris will adopt responsibilities for primary care, community health, major diseases, patient safety, maternity care, inquiries, cosmetic regulation, gender identity services, blood transplants and organ donation, and fertility and embryology.

The Prime Minister was pushed to resign last week after swathes of ministers resigned from his Cabinet, including health secretary Sajid Javid – who has since announced his own candidacy for the top job.

Former health secretary Mr Hunt also launched his bid this weekend, claiming he can ‘win back trust’ for the Conservative Party because he was not a Boris Johnson supporter.

A version of this article was first published by Pulse’s sister title The Pharmacist


          

READERS' COMMENTS [1]

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Kevlar Cardie 12 July, 2022 3:16 pm

Another apparatchik who will have as much utility as mammary glands on a moped.