UK - Andy Burnham, the new Health Secretary

Cabinet reshuffle: Andy Burnham moves from best job in the world to the hospital ward Before the reshuffle Andy Burnham declared a desire to remain in his dream job of Culture, Media and Sport but promotion to the Department of Health proved too tempting.
By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM BST 06 Jun 2009
Andy Burnham, the new Health Secretary
Although he wears it lightly, ambition has always been at the core of the 39-year-old Cabinet minister who grew up in Leigh, the part of Merseyside he has represented since 2001 and who is often spoken of as a future Labour leader.
Initially considered a Blairite, having worked for New Labour stalwarts Tessa Jowell, Chris Smith and Ruth Kelly, his appointment to DCMS on Gordon Brown's arrival at No 10 was considered a conciliatory gesture.
In one of the most cringe-worthy revelations about a Cabinet minister, a letter from Mr Burnham to the Commons fees office was made public, in which he begged for a £16,000 decorating bill to be paid, saying: "Otherwise I might be in line for divorce!"

More seriously, he also came to an arrangement whereby a windfall from his landlord was added to his allowances and repaid in expenses, leading to questions over whether he should have paid tax on the transaction.

Mr Burnham's humiliation was complete when it emerged that he had a £19.95 claim for an Ikea bathrobe rejected.

However, Health came as a reward for denouncing the decision of his close friend James Purnell to turn on Mr Brown, and he now commands the largest workforce and one of the biggest budgets of any government department.

Married to Dutch-born Marie-France van Heel, a former marketing executive, the couple have three children.

This is the man who penned the Early Day Motion No1258 that gave us the fluoridation legislature giving power to the Health Authorities and the blanket insurance for the Water Companies. I hope the electorate remember that at the next election.