Shadow Secretary of State for Health

Shadow Secretary of State for Health
Incumbent Jon Ashworth since 7 October 2016
Appointer	Leader of the Opposition
Inaugural holder	Shirley Williams
Formation	19 June 1970
Website	The Shadow Cabinet

The Shadow Secretary of State for Health is an office within British politics held by a member of Her 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 develop alternative policies. The office holder is a member of the Shadow Cabinet.

List of Shadow Secretaries of State for Health

Name		Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes	Ref
	Shirley Williams	19 June 1970	19 October 1971	Labour
	Barbara Castle	19 October 1971	24 March 1972	Labour
	John Silkin	24 March 1972	4 March 1974	Labour
	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	Conservative
	Norman Fowler	18 February 1975	19 November 1976	Conservative
	Patrick Jenkin	19 November 1976	4 May 1979	Conservative
	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	Labour
	Gwyneth Dunwoody	8 December 1980	31 October 1983	Labour
	Michael Meacher	31 October 1983	13 July 1987	Labour
	Robin Cook	13 July 1987	18 July 1992	Labour		[1]
	David Blunkett	18 July 1992	20 October 1994	Labour		[2]
	Margaret Beckett	20 October 1994	19 October 1995	Labour		[3]
	Harriet Harman	19 October 1995	1 July 1996	Labour		[4]
	Chris Smith	1 July 1996	2 May 1997	Labour
	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	Conservative		[5][6]
	Ann Widdecombe	1 June 1998	13 January 1999	Conservative		[7]
	Liam Fox	13 January 1999	6 November 2003	Conservative		[8]
	Tim Yeo	6 November 2003	19 June 2004	Conservative	Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Education	[9]
	Andrew Lansley	19 June 2004	12 May 2010	Conservative	Later Secretary of State for Health (2010–2012)	[10][11]
	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	Labour
	Andy Burnham	7 October 2011	13 September 2015	Labour	Former Secretary of State for Health (2009–2010)
	Heidi Alexander	13 September 2015	26 June 2016	Labour
	Diane Abbott	27 June 2016	6 October 2016	Labour
	Jon Ashworth	7 October 2016	Incumbent	Labour		[12]

References

1. "Former minister Robin Cook dies". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
2. 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 2008-09-29.
3. "Hunting a second term". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 December 2000. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
4. "Politics 97; Harriet Harman". BBC Political Research Unit. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1997. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
5. "John Maples; Biographical details". Ask Aristotle. London: guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 13, 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
6. Maples, John. "John Maples: Political Biography". John Maples. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
7. "Opposition front bench team as at 5 June 1998". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
8. "Opposition front bench team". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
9. "Tim Yeo; Biographical details". Ask Aristotle. London: guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
10. "House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin Noticeboard". House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
11. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
12. Jamie Grierson and Anushka Asthana (27 June 2016). "Jeremy Corbyn unveils new shadow cabinet after raft of resignations". The Guardian.