James Murray appointed as new Health Secretary
James Murray has been chosen to fill the shoes of the resigning Wes Streeting and become the new Health Secretary, reports BritPanorama.
The MP for Ealing North, in Greater London, was first elected in December 2019. He has been a mainstay in Keir Starmer’s cabinet, having served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury before replacing the outgoing Mr Streeting.
Murray grew up in Ealing with his brother and mother, who served as a Labour Councillor for the local Cleveland ward between 2014 and 2018. He attended St Paul’s School and later studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Wadham College, University of Oxford, graduating with a first-class BA degree in 2004.
Following his academic pursuits, he opted to follow in his mother’s footsteps by serving as a councillor in Islington, representing the Barnsbury ward for a decade. During his time in local government, he held the position of executive member for housing and development for six years, with trade magazine Inside Housing describing him as a “tough negotiator who knows what he wants.”
Before entering Parliament, Murray advised Sadiq Khan during his successful campaigns to become Mayor of London in 2016, which led to his appointment as Deputy Mayor for Housing at City Hall, overseeing the £4.8 billion affordable homes programme.
Despite the challenges posed by Boris Johnson’s Conservative majority, Murray was elected to Parliament in December 2019, securing his Ealing North seat with 56.5% of the vote and a majority of 12,269. He became a member of the Health and Social Care Committee at the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 and was appointed to the Opposition Whips’ Office the following month.
In October 2020, after the resignation of Dan Carden, Murray was appointed Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He was re-elected in the 2024 general election and appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in Starmer’s cabinet. In the 2025 British cabinet reshuffle, he replaced Darren Jones as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Pictured smiling and waving at reporters upon his arrival at Downing Street on his first full day as Health Secretary, Murray is acutely aware of the significant challenges ahead, particularly in overseeing the NHS. He lives in West Ealing with his husband, Tom Griffiths.
As the new Health Secretary, Murray’s approach will be scrutinized as he navigates the complexities of the UK’s health landscape, balancing immediate priorities and long-term health objectives.
