Change in Key Government Positions: Victoria Atkins Becomes Health Secretary
There has been a significant cabinet reshuffle, with Victoria Atkins, MP for Louth and Horncastle, appointed as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This critical update was announced on Monday, November 13.
A First Senior Cabinet Role for Atkins
Victoria Atkins, a Member of Parliament since 2015, has held the position of financial secretary to the Treasury since October 2022. After years in office, the 47-year-old has now ascended to her first senior cabinet position.
The Conservative Party released a statement on X, indicating that Mrs Atkins intends to "cut waiting lists."
This shift of roles was one of the four major changes in Parliament triggered by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's termination. Mrs Atkins' recent statements that police officers were too lenient with pro-Palestinian protestors sparked considerable controversy.
Other Significant Cabinet Reshuffles
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented two other notable changes. James Cleverly, a previous Foreign Secretary, has now been positioned as the new Home Secretary. Surprisingly, former Prime Minister David Cameron has been named as the new Foreign Secretary, his first significant role seven years after his resignation in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
Victoria Atkins: A Career Path
Born in London, Atkins has had a vast political career. Her roles range from being a Financial Secretary to serving as the Under-Secretary for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism within the Home Office. She, among others, resigned during the parliamentary crisis in July 2022 that ended Boris Johnson's premiership.
As she steps into her new role as Health Secretary, one of the ongoing issues she will inherit is the unresolved pay dispute that led to numerous doctors' strikes over the past year.