Who is James Murray, the new health secretary replacing Wes Streeting?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Who is James Murray, the new health secretary replacing Wes Streeting? 4 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleHugh Pym ,Health editorandJoe McFadden ,Health reporterReutersFrom a high-profile, media-friendly Secretary of State to a relatively unknown MP, the departure of Wes Streeting and arrival of James Murray has raised eyebrows in the health and political worlds. It is one of the biggest Cabinet jobs with the largest public service departmental budgets.

There will be a steep learning curve with no time for preparation away from the front line. Murray says he's "deeply honoured to be appointed" to the brief and continue "Wes Streeting's brilliant work on such a critical mission", but who is he, and what issues will he face in his in tray? The new Health and Social Care Secretary was elected to the London seat of Ealing North in 2019, having previously been a Deputy Mayor of London, an Islington councillor from 2006 to 2016 and a management consultant.

The Details

He joined the whips office after Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader – following a brief stint on the health and social care select committee - and is seen as a Starmer loyalist. Like Streeting before him, Murray has also been treated by the NHS as a patient. During his maiden speech in March 2020, the minister said the NHS came to his rescue after he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune neurological condition caused by problems with signals sent between the nerves and the muscles.

Addressing the Commons at the time, he told MPs they "must win the battle for the NHS and the social care system that we need" and that he would "fight every day for our NHS with the strength that it has given me back". On his personal website, cutting NHS waiting times also features as a priority, along with creating more evening and weekend appointments every week, "paid for by a crackdown on tax avoidance and non-doms". Doctor strikes and other challengesThe health brief is one of the largest in government, and Murray inherits an overflowing in-tray and a department under continuous scrutiny from politicians, clinicians, patients and the media.

Sorting out the resident doctors' dispute is an immediate challenge. There have been 14 strikes since March 2023 with no resolution in sight yet. The Royal College of Nursing, meanwhile, says Murray must urgently tackle the depleted and undervalued nursing workforce.

What Experts Say

Tackling the issue of corridor care in A&E is another challenge. A key Labour pledge - ensuring that 92% of patients in England get planned treatment done in 18 weeks - will fall to the new secretary of state and most health experts are doubtful whether the target can be achieved. This week's King's Speech also included an NHS Modernisation Bill which will have to be steered through parliament.

This has all the technical detail required to formalise the abolition of NHS England and the move of its functions to the Department of Health and Social Care.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.