Health minister goes in Welsh reshuffle
Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt has been replaced with her deputy Dr Brian Gibbon in a mini reshuffle.
Ms Hutt will take up the post of Cabinet business manager, while her predecessor Karen Sinclair will continue as chief whip.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan rejected suggestions that Ms Hutt had been sacked, instead saying that she had been moved to another role.
She has faced criticism from the opposition parties – particularly over waiting lists – and they welcomed news of her removal. But both the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru suggested that the timing was about the forthcoming general election.
Mr Morgan said he was confident that “Brian Gibbons has a unique combination of experience and talent to build on the platform created by Jane Hutt for the health and social services of Wales since May 1999.”
And he said that Ms Hutt would be taking on another “key” position.
But Plaid Cymru’s parliamentary leader, Elfyn Llwyd, said that the timing was suspect to say the least. “Understandably the London government was concerned that Jane Hutt and her appalling record on the NHS could have cost New Labour votes at the general election and so the decision was taken to remove her.
“All too often the First Minister has tried to reassure us there is clear red water between New Labour in Wales and New Labour in London. Today’s announcement confirms that from policy making to the appointment of ministers, New Labour in London is firmly in charge of the Welsh Assembly Government’s affairs.
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German echoed Mr Llywd’s view: “Unless the new Health Minister, Brian Gibbons, is prepared to take the necessary action to improve the Welsh NHS, this move is only window-dressing from Rhodri Morgan. The problem was never Jane Hutt personally but her and her Government’s ineffective policies.
“It seems that with the general election expected to be only a few months away, the First Minister has bowed to pressure from Welsh Labour MPs and got a new face to present Labour’s failing health policies.”
