Reid replaces Milburn as health secretary

John Reid has been appointed health secretary following Alan
Milburn’s shock resignation on Thursday morning.

Reid was leader of the House of Commons before the reshuffle,
and before that he was Irish and Scottish secretaries.

Milburn resigned from his cabinet post to spend more time with
his young family. He told prime minister Tony Blair he was finding
it increasingly difficult to balance his work and family life.

The MP for Darlington made few friends in social care after he
named and shamed social services departments at the annual social
services conference in 2001.

Peter Hain replaces Reid as leader of the house.

Alan Milburn’s resignation letter