Ealing North MP Becomes New Health Secretary
James Murray promoted following Wes Streeting resignation
James Murray MP. Picture: House of Commons
May 15, 2026
James Murray, has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, following the dramatic resignation of Wes Streeting on 14 May. Mr Murray, who has represented Ealing North since 2019, steps into the role at a moment of political turbulence and at a time when the NHS faces intense pressure.
He enters the post after serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from September 2025 until this week, and before that as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. His promotion comes amid a wider crisis of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership, triggered by Labour’s poor local election results and Streeting’s high-profile departure.
Wes Streeting publicly congratulated Murray, saying he “inherits a wonderful team and an important mission”.
Mr Murray was equally generous to his predecessor in return posting on social media, “Deeply honoured to be appointed by the Prime Minister as Health & Social Care Secretary. Huge thanks to @RachelReevesMP for my time as part of her fantastic team. Can't wait to get started and continue @wesstreeting's brilliant work on such a critical mission for our country.”
Having been a councillor in Islington for a decade, in 2016 he became Sadiq Khan’s Deputy Mayor for Housing, where he built a reputation for aggressively pushing for higher levels of affordable units in developments.
His insight into the health service may have been enhanced by a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, a neurological condition that causes muscle weakness, though he has been symptom-free since the early 2010s.
His constituents will be watching closely to see how their MPs new national responsibilities intersect with local priorities. The area faces many of the same challenges seen across the NHS: long GP waiting times, pressure on A&E at Ealing Hospital, and concerns about social care capacity.
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