Steve Barclay, Boris Johnson’s former chief of workers, was promoted to the function of well being secretary final evening because the prime minister was compelled right into a mini-reshuffle following the resignations of two excessive profile cupboard ministers in one other evening of excessive drama at Westminster.
Mr Barclay changed Sajid Javid, and Nadhim Zahawi took over from Rishi Sunak as chancellor, after Mr Johnson apologised for selling Chris Pincher to the function of deputy chief whip – regardless of being instructed of a sexual misconduct grievance being made in opposition to the Tamworth MP.
In an announcement after he was appointed, Mr Barclay stated it was an “honour” to tackle the well being temporary. “Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again – throughout the pandemic and beyond – what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives,” he stated.
Mr Barclay fought elections in Manchester Blackley (1997) and Lancaster and Wyre (2001) earlier than ultimately being elected to parliament as MP for North East Cambridgeshire in 2010, when the Conservatives shaped a coalition authorities with the Liberal Democrats. He was on then-PM David Cameron’s ‘A-list’ of candidates and has elevated his majority at every normal election since.
He landed his first authorities job in 2015 when he was appointed assistant chief whip on the Treasury. He held two different posts there earlier than being promoted to minister of state for the division he now leads in 2018.
A Leave campaigner, Mr Barclay’s political profession reached new heights in 2018 when former prime minister Theresa May appointed him secretary of state for leaving the European Union, a job he did till January 2020. The following month, Mr Johnson appointed him as chief secretary to the Treasury, the place he remained till September final 12 months.
Mr Johnson appointed him as minister for the cupboard workplace in the identical month after which moved him to chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster and chief of workers in February this 12 months. Since then, has he has change into one of many PM’s most loyal allies and was closely concerned in “Operation Save Big” – a plan to save lots of Mr Johnson’s premiership through the top of the Partygate scandal.
In his twin function as chief of workers and a cupboard workplace minister, Mr Barclay was a part of the shadow whipping effort that efficiently prevented a confidence vote on Mr Johnson’s management in January. The poll was ultimately triggered in June, with the MP narrowly successful it.
Before coming into politics, Mr Barclay, a certified solicitor, labored as regulator of the Financial Services Authority and head of anti-money laundering at Barclays Bank earlier than embarking on a political profession.
The son of a commerce union official father and a civil servant mom, he has beforehand described himself as coming from a “working class Northern background” in Lancashire. The youngest of three brothers, he was within the first era of his household to go to college, studying historical past at Cambridge and spending a niche 12 months serving within the military with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Labour mocked Mr Barclay’s appointment, saying that he might effectively change into the “shortest serving health secretary in history”.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk