Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The shadow secretary of state for health and social care is an office within British politics held by a member of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. The duty of the office holder is to scrutinise the actions of the government's secretary of state for health and social care and develop alternative policies. The office holder is a member of the Shadow Cabinet and appointed by the leader of the opposition.

Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Incumbent
Ed Argar
since 5 November 2024
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Inaugural holderShirley Williams
Formation19 June 1970
WebsiteThe Shadow Cabinet

It is currently held by Ed Argar.

List of shadow secretaries of state for health

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Name Entered office Left office Political party Leader of the Opposition Notes Ref
Shirley Williams   19 June 1970 19 October 1971 Labour Later SDP Founder and Liberal Democrats Leader in House of Lords
Barbara Castle   19 October 1971 24 March 1972 Later Secretary of State for Health and Social Services
John Silkin   24 March 1972 4 March 1974
Keith Joseph 4 March 1974 11 March 1974 Conservative Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1970–1974)
Geoffrey Howe   11 March 1974 18 February 1975
Norman Fowler   18 February 1975 19 November 1976
Patrick Jenkin 19 November 1976 4 May 1979
David Ennals   4 May 1979 14 June 1979 Labour Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1976–1979)
Stanley Orme 14 June 1979 8 December 1980 [1]
Gwyneth Dunwoody   8 December 1980 31 October 1983
Michael Meacher   31 October 1983 13 July 1987
Robin Cook   13 July 1987 18 July 1992 [2]
David Blunkett   18 July 1992 20 October 1994 [3]
Margaret Beckett   20 October 1994 19 October 1995 [4]
Harriet Harman   19 October 1995 1 July 1996 [5]
Chris Smith   1 July 1996 2 May 1997
Stephen Dorrell   2 May 1997 11 June 1997 Conservative Former Secretary of State for Health (1995–1997)
John Maples 11 June 1997 1 June 1998 [6][7]
Ann Widdecombe   1 June 1998 13 January 1999 [8]
Liam Fox   13 January 1999 6 November 2003 [9]
Tim Yeo   6 November 2003 19 June 2004 Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Education [10]
Andrew Lansley   19 June 2004 12 May 2010 Later Secretary of State for Health (2010–2012) [11][12]
Andy Burnham   12 May 2010 8 October 2010 Labour Former Secretary of State for Health (2009–2010)
John Healey   8 October 2010 6 October 2011
Andy Burnham   7 October 2011 13 September 2015 Former Secretary of State for Health (2009–2010)
Heidi Alexander   13 September 2015 26 June 2016
Diane Abbott   27 June 2016 6 October 2016 Jeremy Corbyn
(Shadow Cabinet)
[13]
Jonathan Ashworth   7 October 2016 29 November 2021 Keir Starmer
(Shadow Cabinet)
Shadow Secretary of State for Health (2016–2020)

Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2020-2021)

[14]
Wes Streeting   29 November 2021 5 July 2024 [15]
Victoria Atkins   8 July 2024 5 November 2024 Conservative Rishi Sunak
(Shadow Cabinet)
Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in Rishi Sunak's Administration, (2023-2024)
Ed Argar   5 November 2024 Incumbent Kemi Badenoch
(Shadow Cabinet)
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (2024)
Shadow Lord Chancellor (2024)

References

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  1. ^ "Parliamentary career for Lord Orme". Parliament of the United Kingdom.
  2. ^ "Former minister Robin Cook dies". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  3. ^ Brown, Colin (21 March 2005). "David Blunkett: 'I'd like to come back but I have to earn it. That means the graft of getting round the country'". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  4. ^ "Hunting a second term". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 December 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  5. ^ "Politics 97; Harriet Harman". BBC Political Research Unit. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1997. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  6. ^ "John Maples; Biographical details". Ask Aristotle. London: guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 November 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  7. ^ Maples, John. "John Maples: Political Biography". John Maples. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Opposition front bench team as at 5 June 1998". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Opposition front bench team". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  10. ^ "Tim Yeo; Biographical details". Ask Aristotle. London: guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  11. ^ "House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin Noticeboard". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  12. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  13. ^ Turnbull, Alex (27 June 2016). "Diane Abbott appointed shadow health secretary". www.independentnurse.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. ^ Jamie Grierson; Anushka Asthana (27 June 2016). "Jeremy Corbyn unveils new shadow cabinet after raft of resignations". The Guardian.
  15. ^ Launder, Mimi (30 November 2021). "Wes Streeting appointed as shadow health secretary in reshuffle". Nursing in Practice. Retrieved 16 June 2022.