Yvette Cooper Appointed as New UK Health Secretary

The new UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed Yvette Cooper as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. She succeeds James Murray, who had held the position since May 2026 following the resignation of Wes Streeting. Previously, Cooper served as Foreign Secretary, and between 1999 and 2003, she worked in the Department of Health as a junior health minister.

Cooper’s appointment is drawing public attention , as former Health Secretary Wes Streeting faced criticism for certain policy decisions, including the ban on puberty blockers.

Yvette Cooper is known for supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage in the UK in 2013, acting as a sponsor of the respective bill. Regarding the rights of transgender individuals, her past positions included proposals to introduce gender-neutral passports (with an “X” marker), announced in 2015 during the Labour Party’s election campaign. In 2022, Cooper refused to provide a clear definition of the word “woman” during an interview, stating the need to focus on combating inequality and protecting women’s rights, avoiding getting drawn into debates on the topic.

In a statement following her appointment, Cooper noted that her priorities in the new role will include improving maternity services and taking forward plans for social care reform.