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Heidi Alexander has been appointed shadow secretary of state for health by the new leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn has also created a new role, shadow secretary for mental health, which has been given to Luciana Berger.
Corbyn was elected the new leader of the Labour party on 12 September 2015 and has since reshuffled the shadow cabinet. “The shadow cabinet is a strong combination of change and continuity that will now come together to hold this government to account,” says Corbyn.
Alexander, Labour MP for Lewisham East, says she believes that “everyone should have equal access to high-quality public services and that free healthcare based on need is a basic human right”. She takes over as shadow health secretary from Andy Burnham, who has been appointed shadow home secretary.
Commenting on the creation of a new position for mental health, Corbyn says: “I am delighted that we have established a shadow cabinet position for mental health which is a matter I have long been interested in.”
Berger is the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree and was previously shadow minister for public health, a position that no longer exists in the shadow cabinet.
