Andrew Lansley has been demoted from his position as Health Secretary to Leader of the Commons in a government reshuffle.
Former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been confirmed to replace Lansley.
Despite his controversial health reforms being awarded royal assent and making it onto the statute book in March this year, it is widely reported it was Lansley’s failure to communicate the reforms to NHS staff and the wider public that has caused him to lose his job.
No 10 confirmed both Lansley and Hunt’s new roles on Twitter.
Speaking to the BBC immediately after being appointed as Health Secretary, Hunt said he was “incredibly honoured” to take on the role.
“It is a huge task and the biggest privilege of my life,” he told the BBC.
Responding to Lansley’s departure, Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott wrote on Twitter: “Sacking Andrew Lansley is a belated admission from this government that their ideological NHS reforms are a disaster.”
Chair of the British Medical Association Council, Dr Mark Porter, said he is “looking forward” to working with Hunt “on the many pressing issues” facing the NHS.
Also not one to shy away from controversy, Hunt faced calls to resign from his post as culture secretary in June this year, after it had emerged his former adviser had provided detailed evidence to Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corporation about the handling of the lucrative BSkyB bid.
