Alan Milburn to be given lead role in Labour’s health ministry

Move reignites row over Labour figures with private interests having access to government

• Who are the key New Labour figures in Keir Starmer's government?

Wes Streeting is to hand Alan Milburn a lead role in the running of his health ministry, in a move that has reignited the row over Labour figures with private interests having access to government.

The health secretary is preparing to appoint Milburn, who was a radical reformer of the NHS in his time in that post under Tony Blair, as the lead non-executive director of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).