Norfolk MP promoted to Health Minister

Norman Lamb MP has been made a Health Minister Credit: Anthony Devlin/Press Association Images

The North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb has moved from his job as a Business Minister to take on a role at the Department of Health. The Liberal Democrat MP has been a Business Minister for just eight months, since February 2012. His move to the Department of Health is a promotion as he is understood to be taking on a senior ministerial role with responsibilities including elderly care.

In opposition Norman Lamb was the Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson for more than 3 years leading up to the May 2010 General Election. In Government he has been critical of Andrew Lansley's health reforms, threatening to resign from the Government if "major changes" were not made to the legislation as it was going through Parliament.

His appointment as a Health Minister when the Coalition Government was first formed is said to have been blocked by the then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. Today Norman Lamb starts his new job at the Department of Health, Andrew Lansley of course will not be there as his boss.