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Brown loses another minister as Lord Darzi quits
15 Jul 2009
Gordon Brown lost yet another member of his Government with the announcement that Health Minister Lord Darzi is quitting.
The renowned surgeon became the latest minister to join the exodus as he revealed he was stepping down next week in order to focus on his clinical work and academic research.
Downing Street said he would retain an advisory capacity to the Government and take up a new role as its Health and Life Sciences Ambassador, however.
Lord Darzi was one of the four original "goats" - so-called because they were appointed from outside politics to the Prime Minister's "government of all the talents" in 2007.
All but one - Security Minister Lord West - have now left or announced they are leaving, although City Minister Lord Myners, who was appointed last year, also remains.
Fellow "goats" Lord Malloch-Brown, the Foreign Office minister, and Lord Carter, the Communications minister who was also appointed last year, are to quit shortly as well.
Their departures follow a string of resignations by ministers, including several from around the Cabinet table, which rocked Mr Brown's administration last month.
On joining the Government in summer 2007, Lord Darzi led a major review of the NHS, which reported in June last year.
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, he said he had spent the past year implementing its findings and paid tribute to Labour's support for the health service.
"During my time as a minister, I have maintained my clinical practice and research," he wrote.
"The time has now come for me to return to care for my patients, lead my academic department, and continue my research full time.
"I will be stepping down from my post as parliamentary under-secretary in the Department of Health when Parliament goes into recess for the summer."
Mr Brown lavished praise on Lord Darzi's "outstanding" contribution to the Government and "immense" input to the NHS.
"Your groundbreaking review of NHS services acted to renew one of Britain's most important institutions and set a direction for the NHS which I believe will be of defining importance to healthcare in Britain over the next decade - a more personal, preventive service, with high-quality care at its centre," he said.
As well as his new ambassadorial role, Lord Darzi is to chair a new forum, called NHS Global, to promote the health service and the UK's life sciences industry around the world.
The forum is to be set up in the weeks ahead with representatives from the Government, NHS and life science industries.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said Lord Darzi's resignation had been coming "for a long time".
"Ara Darzi's laudable focus on quality was increasingly at odds with the Brownite fixation with targets and command and control," he claimed.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the move was a "massive blow" to the Prime Minister.
"As a respected doctor, Darzi led the initiative on the NHS for Labour and questions must be asked on whether there is more to his resignation than meets the eye," he added.
"A short spell as a minister seems to be the new route into the House of Lords for New Labour supporters."
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the King's Fund, said Lord Darzi had made a "huge" contribution in government.
"His legacy will be to have put the quality of care patients receive centre stage - and to have reinforced the need to involve doctors, nurses and other professionals in the reform process," he said.
"It is too early to say whether Lord Darzi will have made the difference he wanted and there is still much to do to turn his vision into reality throughout the health service.
"But there is no doubt that the number one priority for the NHS from now on will be improving quality of care, while delivering greater value for money.
"Lord Darzi's personal commitment has been crucial in driving this forward."
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Lord Darzi's new focus will be on supporting the Government's life sciences strategy and the contribution which the NHS can make to supporting a strong, vibrant health industry in the UK and around the world."
The spokesman added: "Lord Darzi will also advise on health reforms in both the NHS and our global public health."
Reader views (3)
"But there is no doubt that the number one priority for the NHS from now on will be improving quality of care, while delivering greater value for money."
...Ummm, I thought these were always the "number one priority". Where does the "from now on" bit come in?
- Rogan, Irving, 16/07/2009 07:07
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I presume the good Lord will be returning his Lordship? No, I suppose just like all the rest who run to be in the cabinet, spend a couple of months doing not a lot - and continue the day job - until they find being a minister interferes with their social life and then resign, he'll keep his title and nice little earner from popping into the Lords social club with his new chums.
- Gc, London, 16/07/2009 06:07
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Lord Darzi? He'll be yet another one of those elected and thus fully accountable MPs that this unelected PM has stuffed his cabinet full of?!
This pathetic government is such a joke.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/07/2009 06:07
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