Dr. Zubir Ahmed, a transplant surgeon and the Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West, has been in discussions with Andy Burnham's team regarding the possibility of him serving as Health Secretary in a future cabinet. This potential appointment could mark the first time a qualified doctor has held the position in approximately 100 years.
Dr. Ahmed previously served as Health Innovation and Safety Minister under Sir Keir Starmer and frequently deputized for the then-Health Secretary, Wes Streeting. Ahmed resigned from his ministerial role in May, preceding Streeting's own departure from the Cabinet in anticipation of a leadership challenge. Streeting has since withdrawn from the leadership race and endorsed Burnham.
According to reports, Dr. Ahmed has presented endorsements from several senior National Health Service figures to Burnham's team. The last doctor to hold a similar public health role was Dr. Christopher Addison, who served as Minister of Health from 1919 to 1921.