Difference between revisions of "Alan Milburn"

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{{person
 
{{person
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|constitutes=politician
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|constitutes=politician, lobbyist
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|image=Alan_Milburn.jpg
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Milburn
 
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Milburn
 
|alma_mater=Lancaster University
 
|alma_mater=Lancaster University
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|birth_place=Tow Law, County Durham, England
 
|birth_place=Tow Law, County Durham, England
 
|political_parties=Labour
 
|political_parties=Labour
 +
|companieshouse=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/E6ytB0l6HDtvDLD6PZksimPlR3o/appointments
 +
|powerbase=http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Alan_Milburn
 +
|sourcewatch=http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Alan_Milburn
 
|employment={{job
 
|employment={{job
 
|title=Minister for the Cabinet Office
 
|title=Minister for the Cabinet Office
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|start=8 September 2004– 6 May 2005
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|start=8 September 2004
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|end=
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|end=6 May 2005
 
}}{{job
 
}}{{job
 
|title=Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
 
|title=Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
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|start=8 September 2004– 6 May 2005
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|start=8 September 2004
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|end=
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|end=6 May 2005
 
}}{{job
 
}}{{job
 
|title=Secretary of State for Health
 
|title=Secretary of State for Health
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|start=11 October 1999– 13 June 2003
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|start=11 October 1999
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|end=
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|end=13 June 2003
 
}}{{job
 
}}{{job
 
|title=Chief Secretary to the Treasury
 
|title=Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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|start=23 December 1998– 11 October 1999
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|start=23 December 1998
−
|end=
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|end=11 October 1999
 
}}{{job
 
}}{{job
 
|title=Member of Parliament for Darlington
 
|title=Member of Parliament for Darlington
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|start=10 April 1992– 12 April 2010
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|start=10 April 1992
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|end=
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|end=12 April 2010
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
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Alan Milburn (born 27 January 1958) is a Labour MP for Darlington. He was Chief Secretary at Treasury from December 1998 to October 1999, and Secretary of State at Department of Health between October 1999 and June 2003.<ref>They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/alan_milburn/darlington Alan Milburn MP], accessed 28 November 2008.</ref>
+
'''Alan Milburn''' is a British politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Darlington from 1992 to 2010.<ref>They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/alan_milburn/darlington Alan Milburn MP], accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> He did not seek re-election in the [[UK/General election/2010]].
  
−
== Anti-obesity initiatives ==
+
Milburn is a Director of the [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05488354 Social Mobility Foundation,] having previously chaired its forerunner the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Mobility_Commission Social Mobility Commission from 2012 to 2017.]
  
−
In May 2007 Milburn became an advisor to [[Pepsico]] one of the organisations involved in [[Business4Life]] the business consortium behind the Department of Health's [[Change4Life]] anti-obesity initiative. <ref> Business4Life
+
Since 2015, he has been Chancellor of [[Lancaster University]].
 +
 
 +
In October 2024, Health and Social Care Secretary [[Wes Streeting]] appointed Milburn the lead Non-Executive Director of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/15/alan-milburn-to-be-given-lead-role-in-labours-health-ministry "Alan Milburn to be given lead role in Labour’s health ministry"]''</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Lobbyist==
 +
In September 2024, ''[[The Times]]'' reported that Milburn had been given access to Health Department documents without having been assigned an official role in the new [[Labour]] governmet.<ref>''[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/milburn-accessed-health-department-documents-with-no-official-role-7src526dz "Milburn accessed health department documents with no official role"]''</ref>
 +
 
 +
In October 2024, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported:{{QB|
 +
:[[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).
 +
 
 +
:That will give Milburn an official position after months when he has caused disquiet at the DHSC and [[NHS England]] by attending meetings of both organisations despite having no formal role, such as that of a minister or special adviser.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/15/alan-milburn-to-be-given-lead-role-in-labours-health-ministry</ref>}}
 +
 
 +
===Profiting from the NHS===
 +
[[Labour]] MP [[Diane Abbott]] commented:{{QB|
 +
:"Milburn is an adviser to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgepoint_Group Bridgepoint Capital] owner of Care UK– a large operator of care homes– and PwC’s health practice. He has worked for [[Centene Corporation]], a [[US]] healthcare company and [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07725451 Huma,] a digital healthcare company."
 +
 
 +
:Profiting from the [[NHS]].<ref>''[https://x.com/HackneyAbbott/status/1846472739999055905 "Milburn - Profiting from the NHS"]''</ref>}}
 +
 
 +
=== Anti-obesity initiatives ===
 +
In May 2007 Milburn became an advisor to [[PepsiCo]] one of the organisations involved in [[Business4Life]] the business consortium behind the Department of Health's [[Change4Life]] anti-obesity initiative. <ref> Business4Life
 
[http://www.business4life.co.uk/ Home page], Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
 
[http://www.business4life.co.uk/ Home page], Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
−
[[Pepsico]] and its subsidiary [[Walkers]] Crisps are clients of [[Freud Communications]].
+
[[PepsiCo]] and its subsidiary [[Walkers]] Crisps are clients of [[Freud Communications]] who were hired by the Department of Health to run its anti-obesity campaign.<ref> Matt Cartmel, [http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/835807/Freud-lands-anti-obesity-brief/ Freud Lands Anti-obesity brief],Brand Republic, July 31 2008, Accessed December 9 2008
−
[[Freud Communications]] were hired by the Department of Health to run its anti-obesity campaign.<ref> Matt Cartmel,
 
−
[http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/835807/Freud-lands-anti-obesity-brief/ Freud Lands Anti-obesity brief],Brand Republic, July 31 2008, Accessed December 9 2008
 
 
</ref>
 
</ref>
  
−
In December 2003, six months after leaving the post of Health Secretary, Milburn made a speech at Magdalen college Oxford at the Oxford Vision 2020 Conference in which he stated," Specifically an ultimatum needs to be placed before the (food) industry that unless it voluntarily cuts fat, sugar and salt in food within a specified time frame then tough regulatory action will be taken to ensure that it does so. The summit could also discuss how to make greater choice over healthier food available in local communities and local schools.In the meantime I hope Ministers will take swift action to remove fast food, soft drink and confectionery machines from all schools." <ref>Oxford Health Alliance
+
In December 2003, six months after leaving the post of [[UK Health Secretary]], Milburn made a speech at Magdalen college Oxford at the Oxford Vision 2020 Conference in which he stated: "Specifically an ultimatum needs to be placed before the (food) industry that unless it voluntarily cuts fat, sugar and salt in food within a specified time frame then tough regulatory action will be taken to ensure that it does so. The summit could also discuss how to make greater choice over healthier food available in local communities and local schools. In the meantime I hope Ministers will take swift action to remove fast food, soft drink and confectionery machines from all schools." <ref>Oxford Health Alliance
 
[http://www.oxha.org/meetings/03-meeting/keynote-speech-by-alan-milburn Keynote speech by Alan Milburn] December 2003, Accessed December 21 2008</ref>
 
[http://www.oxha.org/meetings/03-meeting/keynote-speech-by-alan-milburn Keynote speech by Alan Milburn] December 2003, Accessed December 21 2008</ref>
−
 
−
 
  
 
===PFI initiatives===
 
===PFI initiatives===
 +
During his time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Health, Milburn was instrumental in driving forward the Government's policy of [[PFI]] initiatives in the health service.<ref>HM Treasury [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/982.htm MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED] June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
  
−
During his time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Health, Milburn was instrumental in driving forward the Government's policy of PFI initiatives in the health service.
+
In 1999 Milburn stated:
−
<ref>HM Treasury
+
:"The Government's commitment to partnership between the public and private sector has never been greater. The Government's new guidelines will make [[PFI]] work more effectively and more fairly. This will help deliver higher levels of investment to modernise Britain's key public services such as the [[NHS]].
 +
:"By providing a platform of certainty, the new guidance will help the [[PFI]] continue to grow. Value for money deals go hand in hand with the key test of genuine risk transfer achieved under [[PFI]] contracts. This clarity of approach will enable the revised guidance to work in practice."<ref>HM Treasury
 
[http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/982.htm MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED] June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
 
[http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/982.htm MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED] June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
−
During his time at the Treasury in 1999 Milburn stated
 
  
−
"The Government's commitment to partnership between the public and private sector has never been greater. The Government's new guidelines will make PFI work more effectively and more fairly. This will help deliver higher levels of investment to modernise Britain's key public services such as the NHS.
+
While in 2007 as Secretary of State for Health, Milburn stated:
−
By providing a platform of certainty, the new guidance will help the PFI continue to grow. Value for money deals go hand in hand with the key test of genuine risk transfer achieved under PFI contracts. This clarity of approach will enable the revised guidance to work in practice." <ref>HM Treasury
+
:"We plan to ... remove the Secretary of State's powers of direction over NHS Foundation Trusts. Instead of being line managed by the Department of Health, they will be held to account through agreements and cash for performance contracts... The expectation must be that the greater freedoms that NHS Foundation Trusts will enjoy will help them exceed national performance targets but that will be a matter for local not national negotiation. Those that perform well will benefit from the system of payment by results and patient choice that we announced in Delivering the NHS Plan."<ref>Department of Health
−
[http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/982.htm MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED] June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
While in 2007 as Secretary of State for Health Milburn stated
 
−
 
 
−
"We plan to ... remove the Secretary of State's powers of direction over NHS Foundation Trusts. Instead of being line managed by the Department of Health, they will be held to account through agreements and cash for performance contracts... The expectation must be that the greater freedoms that NHS Foundation Trusts will enjoy will help them exceed national performance targets but that will be a matter for local not national negotiation. Those that perform well will benefit from the system of payment by results and patient choice that we announced in Delivering the NHS Plan."<ref> Department of Health
 
 
[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Speeches/Speecheslist/DH_4000768 Speeches],February 7 2007, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
 
[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Speeches/Speecheslist/DH_4000768 Speeches],February 7 2007, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
  
−
Milburn is currently on the advisory board of [[Bridgepoint Capital]]. <ref> Bridgepoint Capital  
+
From January 2007, Milburn has been on the advisory board of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgepoint_Group Bridgepoint Capital,] a venture capital firm heavily involved in financing private health care firms moving into the [[NHS]].<ref>Bridgepoint Capital [http://www.bridgepoint-capital.com/default.asp?sID=1102698421312 Advisory Board], Accessed December 9 2008</ref> He previously worked as an advisor to Bridgepoint between March and September 2004.<ref>They work for you
−
[http://www.bridgepoint-capital.com/default.asp?sID=1102698421312 Advisory Board], Accessed December 9 2008 </ref> He appears to have joined them in January 2007.
 
−
Bridgepoint is a venture capital firm heavily involved in financing private health care firms moving into the NHS.
 
−
Milburn previously worked as an advisor to Bridgepoint between March and September 2004.<ref> They work for you
 
 
[http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?d=2004-05-21#10434 Members listing May 2004], Accessed December 9 2008</ref>  
 
[http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?d=2004-05-21#10434 Members listing May 2004], Accessed December 9 2008</ref>  
  
 +
===Scanner scandal===
 +
In 2005 the [[Labour Party]] were accused of trying to gag one of its own MPs who strongly criticised a £90 million deal between the [[NHS]] and a private health company linked to Milburn.
  
−
==== Scanner scandal ====
+
[[Kevan Jones]], the MP for North Durham, revealed that patients from his constituency were being sent 20 miles for private MRI scans, even though their own local hospital had a machine standing idle. Jones had spoken out in support of John Saxby, the chief executive of the University Hospital of North Durham, who complained about the purchase of scans from [[Alliance Medical]], while his own NHS scanner was "considerably under-employed".
  
−
In 2005 the Labour Party were accused of trying to gag one of its own MPs who strongly criticised a £90 million deal between the NHS and a private health company linked to Milburn.
+
[[Alliance Medical]] was owned by Bridgepoint and the £90 million scanner deal was signed while Milburn was working for Bridgepoint. The contract for the scanner was announced by [[John Hutton]], the then health minister who is a friend of Milburn.
  
−
[[Kevan Jones]], the MP for North Durham, revealed that patients from his constituency were being sent 20 miles for private MRI scans, even though their own local hospital had a machine standing idle.
+
According to press reports Jones' comments provoked a telephone call to the MP from a Labour Party official demanding an explanation and warning him that they should not be repeated. Jones himself refused to confirm the claim.<ref> Hennessy, Patrick [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1486532/Labour-orders-MP-to-keep-quiet-over-Milburn-scan-deal.html Labour orders MP to keep quiet over Milburn scan deal] Telegraph March 26 2005, Accessed December 9 2008</ref>
−
Jones had spoken out in support of John Saxby, the chief executive of the University Hospital of North Durham, who complained about the purchase of scans from [[Alliance Medical]], while his own NHS scanner was "considerably under-employed".
 
−
 
 
−
[[Alliance Medical]] was owned by Bridgepoint and the £90 million scanner deal was signed while Milburn was working for Bridgepoint.
 
−
The contract for the scanner was announced by [[John Hutton]], the then health minister who is a friend of Milburn.
 
−
 
 
−
According to press reports Jones' comments provoked a telephone call to the MP from a Labour Party official demanding an explanation and warning him that they should not be repeated. Jones himself refused to confirm the claim. <ref> Hennessy, Patrick
 
−
[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1486532/Labour-orders-MP-to-keep-quiet-over-Milburn-scan-deal.html Labour orders MP to keep quiet over Milburn scan deal] Telegraph March 26 2005, Accessed December 9 2008
 
−
</ref>
 
  
 
==Affiliations==
 
==Affiliations==
−
 
+
* In November 2006 Milburn set up [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05989311 AM Strategy Limited] to undertake media/consultancy work<ref>House of Commons [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/081217/081217.pdf Register of Members interests], Accessed December 21 2008</ref>
−
* In November 2006 Milburn set up [[AM Strategy Limited]] to undertake media/consultancy work<ref> House of Commons  
+
* Adviser, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgepoint_Group Bridgepoint Capital]<ref> Bridgepoint Capital [http://www.bridgepoint-capital.com/default.asp?sID=1102698421312 Advisory Board], Accessed December 21 2008</ref>
−
[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/081217/081217.pdf Register of Members interests], Accessed December 21 2008</ref>
+
*Adviser,<ref>Smithers, Rebecca, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/may/30/marketingandpr.politics Beyoncé, Britney ... Milburn? Ex-minister takes Pepsi challenge]," ''Guardian'', 30 May 2007, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[PepsiCo]] (http://www.pepsico.com/) - [[American]] soft drinks giant
−
* Adviser, [[Bridgepoint Capital]] <ref> Bridgepoint Capital  
 
−
[http://www.bridgepoint-capital.com/default.asp?sID=1102698421312 Advisory Board], Accessed December 21 2008 </ref>
 
−
*Adviser,<ref>Smithers, Rebecca, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/may/30/marketingandpr.politics Beyoncé, Britney ... Milburn? Ex-minister takes Pepsi challenge]," ''Guardian'', 30 May 2007, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[PepsiCo]] (http://www.pepsico.com/) - American soft drinks giant
 
 
*Adviser,<ref>Walker, Tim, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1915784/Alan-Milburn-in-the-money.html Milburn in the money]," ''Telegraph'', 30 April 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref><ref>Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[Covidien]] (http://www.covidien.com/) - American health care company
 
*Adviser,<ref>Walker, Tim, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1915784/Alan-Milburn-in-the-money.html Milburn in the money]," ''Telegraph'', 30 April 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref><ref>Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[Covidien]] (http://www.covidien.com/) - American health care company
−
*Adviser,<ref>Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[Lloydspharmacy]] (http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/) - UK pharmacy
+
*Adviser,<ref>Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.</ref> [[Lloyds Pharmacy]] (http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/) - UK pharmacy
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===Publications===
 
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===Contact===
 
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:Address:
 
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:Phone:
 
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:Email:
 
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:Website:
 
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==Resources==
 
==Resources==
−
 
 
*Smithers, Rebecca, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/may/30/marketingandpr.politics Beyoncé, Britney ... Milburn? Ex-minister takes Pepsi challenge]," ''Guardian'', 30 May 2007, accessed 28 November 2008.
 
*Smithers, Rebecca, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/may/30/marketingandpr.politics Beyoncé, Britney ... Milburn? Ex-minister takes Pepsi challenge]," ''Guardian'', 30 May 2007, accessed 28 November 2008.
 
*Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
 
*Swaine, Jon, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2453395/MPs-could-face-ban-on-second-jobs.html MPs could face ban on second jobs]," ''Telegraph'', 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
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*Ungoed-Thomas, Jon, et al., "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5213604.ece Revealed: how minister cashed in on contacts]," ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2008, accessed 24 November 2008.
 
*Ungoed-Thomas, Jon, et al., "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5213604.ece Revealed: how minister cashed in on contacts]," ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2008, accessed 24 November 2008.
 
*Walker, Tim, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1915784/Alan-Milburn-in-the-money.html Milburn in the money]," ''Telegraph'', 30 April 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
 
*Walker, Tim, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1915784/Alan-Milburn-in-the-money.html Milburn in the money]," ''Telegraph'', 30 April 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
 +
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:47, 21 October 2024

Person.png Alan Milburn   Companies House Powerbase SourcewatchRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(politician, lobbyist)
Alan Milburn.jpg
Born1958-01-27
Tow Law, County Durham, England
Alma materLancaster University
PartyLabour

Employment.png Minister for the Cabinet Office Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
8 September 2004 - 6 May 2005
Succeeded byJohn Hutton

Employment.png Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
8 September 2004 - 6 May 2005
Succeeded byJohn Hutton

Employment.png Secretary of State for Health Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
11 October 1999 - 13 June 2003
Preceded byFrank Dobson
Succeeded byJohn Reid

Employment.png Chief Secretary to the Treasury Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
23 December 1998 - 11 October 1999
Preceded byStephen Byers
Succeeded byAndrew Smith

Employment.png Member of Parliament for Darlington

In office
10 April 1992 - 12 April 2010
Preceded byMichael Fallon

Alan Milburn is a British politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Darlington from 1992 to 2010.[1] He did not seek re-election in the UK/General election/2010.

Milburn is a Director of the Social Mobility Foundation, having previously chaired its forerunner the Social Mobility Commission from 2012 to 2017.

Since 2015, he has been Chancellor of Lancaster University.

In October 2024, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting appointed Milburn the lead Non-Executive Director of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).[2]

Lobbyist

In September 2024, The Times reported that Milburn had been given access to Health Department documents without having been assigned an official role in the new Labour governmet.[3]

In October 2024, The Guardian reported:

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).
That will give Milburn an official position after months when he has caused disquiet at the DHSC and NHS England by attending meetings of both organisations despite having no formal role, such as that of a minister or special adviser.[4]

Profiting from the NHS

Labour MP Diane Abbott commented:

"Milburn is an adviser to Bridgepoint Capital owner of Care UK– a large operator of care homes– and PwC’s health practice. He has worked for Centene Corporation, a US healthcare company and Huma, a digital healthcare company."
Profiting from the NHS.[5]

Anti-obesity initiatives

In May 2007 Milburn became an advisor to PepsiCo one of the organisations involved in Business4Life the business consortium behind the Department of Health's Change4Life anti-obesity initiative. [6] PepsiCo and its subsidiary Walkers Crisps are clients of Freud Communications who were hired by the Department of Health to run its anti-obesity campaign.[7]

In December 2003, six months after leaving the post of UK Health Secretary, Milburn made a speech at Magdalen college Oxford at the Oxford Vision 2020 Conference in which he stated: "Specifically an ultimatum needs to be placed before the (food) industry that unless it voluntarily cuts fat, sugar and salt in food within a specified time frame then tough regulatory action will be taken to ensure that it does so. The summit could also discuss how to make greater choice over healthier food available in local communities and local schools. In the meantime I hope Ministers will take swift action to remove fast food, soft drink and confectionery machines from all schools." [8]

PFI initiatives

During his time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Health, Milburn was instrumental in driving forward the Government's policy of PFI initiatives in the health service.[9]

In 1999 Milburn stated:

"The Government's commitment to partnership between the public and private sector has never been greater. The Government's new guidelines will make PFI work more effectively and more fairly. This will help deliver higher levels of investment to modernise Britain's key public services such as the NHS.
"By providing a platform of certainty, the new guidance will help the PFI continue to grow. Value for money deals go hand in hand with the key test of genuine risk transfer achieved under PFI contracts. This clarity of approach will enable the revised guidance to work in practice."[10]

While in 2007 as Secretary of State for Health, Milburn stated:

"We plan to ... remove the Secretary of State's powers of direction over NHS Foundation Trusts. Instead of being line managed by the Department of Health, they will be held to account through agreements and cash for performance contracts... The expectation must be that the greater freedoms that NHS Foundation Trusts will enjoy will help them exceed national performance targets but that will be a matter for local not national negotiation. Those that perform well will benefit from the system of payment by results and patient choice that we announced in Delivering the NHS Plan."[11]

From January 2007, Milburn has been on the advisory board of Bridgepoint Capital, a venture capital firm heavily involved in financing private health care firms moving into the NHS.[12] He previously worked as an advisor to Bridgepoint between March and September 2004.[13]

Scanner scandal

In 2005 the Labour Party were accused of trying to gag one of its own MPs who strongly criticised a £90 million deal between the NHS and a private health company linked to Milburn.

Kevan Jones, the MP for North Durham, revealed that patients from his constituency were being sent 20 miles for private MRI scans, even though their own local hospital had a machine standing idle. Jones had spoken out in support of John Saxby, the chief executive of the University Hospital of North Durham, who complained about the purchase of scans from Alliance Medical, while his own NHS scanner was "considerably under-employed".

Alliance Medical was owned by Bridgepoint and the £90 million scanner deal was signed while Milburn was working for Bridgepoint. The contract for the scanner was announced by John Hutton, the then health minister who is a friend of Milburn.

According to press reports Jones' comments provoked a telephone call to the MP from a Labour Party official demanding an explanation and warning him that they should not be repeated. Jones himself refused to confirm the claim.[14]

Affiliations

Resources


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References

  1. ↑ They Work For You, Alan Milburn MP, accessed 28 November 2008.
  2. ↑ "Alan Milburn to be given lead role in Labour’s health ministry"
  3. ↑ "Milburn accessed health department documents with no official role"
  4. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/15/alan-milburn-to-be-given-lead-role-in-labours-health-ministry
  5. ↑ "Milburn - Profiting from the NHS"
  6. ↑ Business4Life Home page, Accessed December 9 2008
  7. ↑ Matt Cartmel, Freud Lands Anti-obesity brief,Brand Republic, July 31 2008, Accessed December 9 2008
  8. ↑ Oxford Health Alliance Keynote speech by Alan Milburn December 2003, Accessed December 21 2008
  9. ↑ HM Treasury MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008
  10. ↑ HM Treasury MORE PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE (PFI) DEALS EXPECTED June 24 1999, Accessed December 9 2008
  11. ↑ Department of Health Speeches,February 7 2007, Accessed December 9 2008
  12. ↑ Bridgepoint Capital Advisory Board, Accessed December 9 2008
  13. ↑ They work for you Members listing May 2004, Accessed December 9 2008
  14. ↑ Hennessy, Patrick Labour orders MP to keep quiet over Milburn scan deal Telegraph March 26 2005, Accessed December 9 2008
  15. ↑ House of Commons Register of Members interests, Accessed December 21 2008
  16. ↑ Bridgepoint Capital Advisory Board, Accessed December 21 2008
  17. ↑ Smithers, Rebecca, "Beyoncé, Britney ... Milburn? Ex-minister takes Pepsi challenge," Guardian, 30 May 2007, accessed 28 November 2008.
  18. ↑ Walker, Tim, "Milburn in the money," Telegraph, 30 April 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
  19. ↑ Swaine, Jon, "MPs could face ban on second jobs," Telegraph, 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
  20. ↑ Swaine, Jon, "MPs could face ban on second jobs," Telegraph, 24 July 2008, accessed 28 November 2008.
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