UK Parliament
Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberafan Maesteg, has been appointed as pharmacy minister within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Under his role as minister of state for care, to which he was appointed on 8 July 2024, Kinnock’s portfolio includes pharmacy as well as general practice, hospital and community discharge and health and social care integration.
Kinnock’s previous roles include shadow minister for immigration from February 2022 to May 2024; shadow minister for defence from December 2021 to February 2022; and shadow minister for foreign and commonwealth affairs from September 2020 to December 2021.
Posting on X on 12 July 2024, Kinnock said his team would be “working relentlessly to address challenges and seize opportunities for change across the portfolio”.
Prior to the general election on 4 July 2024, the post of pharmacy minister was held by Andrea Leadsom.
Kinnock’s appointment was made by Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North, who was appointed health secretary on 5 July 2024 following Labour’s win in the general election. Streeting previously served as shadow health secretary from November 2021 to July 2024.
Also appointed on 8 July 2024 was Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, as minister of state for health in secondary Care. Smyth’s portfolio includes medicines regulation, pricing and supply and prescribing, as well as NHS workforce.
In a post on X on 9 July 2024, Smyth said she was “delighted to be working with @wesstreeting and team to tackle the challenges facing the NHS”.
