Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, predicts business as usual for the newly appointed Health Secretary.
The Rt Hon James Murray MP has been appointed as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Murray previously served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and before that as the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from July 2024 until September 2025. He will be very familiar with the DHSC budgets and reform plans because the Chief Secretary is a senior ministerial office in the government and is the second most senior ministerial office in HM Treasury, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The office holder is always a full member or attendee of the Cabinet
Expect the strong message from government to be ‘business as usual’, delivering the policies already in place. I anticipate this will include value-based procurement, although short delays may be possible.
The Author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
