After Sir Keir disclosed the rearrangement of his top team, the MP for Tooting wrote a letter to the Labour leader urging him to make mental health care reform a “legislative priority” in a future government.
Dr. Khan has been in office since 2020 and has used his platform to advocate for more funding of mental health programs. In addition to her official duties, she had been working hospital shifts during her tenure.
You made plain that you do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour Cabinet, which is why I told you many weeks ago that I would not be able to continue in this capacity,” she wrote.
I am pleased with how far we have come in eliminating discrimination against those who suffer from mental illness and creating more welcoming environments for those who do. We have created wonderful policies that will unquestionably improve people’s lives.
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She also stated that the “mental health crisis” was caused by the Conservative Government.
To to the report, “With further Government delays to the reform of the Mental Health Act, and the Suicide Prevention Strategy, it is crucial that the next Labour Government treats these areas as a priority.”
A pledge to keep “calling out the Government over the shameful mess they’ve made of Brexit” from the opposition benches was made.
Labour’s shadow cabinet no longer includes a minister for mental health.
Monday’s reorganization of the shadow cabinet included the official appointment of Angela Rayner to the dual roles of shadow deputy prime minister and leveling up secretary. Her mission is to investigate the Conservative government’s plans to boost the economy in regions outside of the South East and London.
One of Sir Keir’s 2020 challengers for the presidency is Lisa Nandy.
During the reshuffle, the former shadow foreign secretary was demoted to shadow cabinet minister for international development, a position that has little to do with the duties of a secretary of state.
The BBC reports that on the same day as this pre-election shakeup, former top civil servant and partygate investigator Sue Gray begins her new post as the chief of staff to the Labour leader.
A six-month delay in her commencing the position with Sir Keir was proposed by the anti-sleaze body, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, and agreed by Labour.
Labour has been reached out to by The Standard for comment.