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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Health minister Lord Darzi quits | Health minister Lord Darzi quits |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Lord Darzi, the leading surgeon brought into Gordon Brown's government, is to resign as health minister. | |
| Downing Street confirmed he will remain as a government adviser but quit as a minister "to devote more time to his clinical role and academic research". | Downing Street confirmed he will remain as a government adviser but quit as a minister "to devote more time to his clinical role and academic research". |
| No 10 said he will take on a new role as health and life sciences ambassador. | No 10 said he will take on a new role as health and life sciences ambassador. |
| Lord Darzi was one of several non-political figures brought into Mr Brown's "government of all the talents" dubbed "Goats" by commentators. | Lord Darzi was one of several non-political figures brought into Mr Brown's "government of all the talents" dubbed "Goats" by commentators. |
| Last year he published his review setting out plans for the next 10 years of the NHS in England. | Last year he published his review setting out plans for the next 10 years of the NHS in England. |
| 'Outstanding contribution' | |
| In his resignation letter he said he had overseen the implementation of his report's conclusions and was "deeply grateful" for the chance to serve in the government but now wanted to step down as a minister. | |
| "As you know, I have maintained my busy clinical practice and research contributions during my time as a minister. The time has now come for me to return to care for my patients, lead my academic department, and continue my research on a full time basis," he wrote. | |
| He will officially resign when Parliament goes into recess later this month. | |
| In a statement, Downing Street said the prime minister had thanked him for an "outstanding contribution" as a health minister. | In a statement, Downing Street said the prime minister had thanked him for an "outstanding contribution" as a health minister. |
| "He will take on a new role as a health and life sciences ambassador for the government and will chair a new NHS Global forum to promote the NHS and the UK's life-sciences industry around the world," it said. | "He will take on a new role as a health and life sciences ambassador for the government and will chair a new NHS Global forum to promote the NHS and the UK's life-sciences industry around the world," it said. |
| "Lord Darzi will also advise on health reforms in both the NHS and our global public health." | "Lord Darzi will also advise on health reforms in both the NHS and our global public health." |
| Of the other "Goats" to join Gordon Brown's government in 2007, the foreign office minister Lord Malloch Brown, is due to stand down at the end of July, former CBI boss Lord Digby Jones quit as trade minister last year and former Ofcom boss Lord Carter recently signalled his intention to quit as minister for communications and broadcasting. | Of the other "Goats" to join Gordon Brown's government in 2007, the foreign office minister Lord Malloch Brown, is due to stand down at the end of July, former CBI boss Lord Digby Jones quit as trade minister last year and former Ofcom boss Lord Carter recently signalled his intention to quit as minister for communications and broadcasting. |
| But Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, remains as security minister. | But Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, remains as security minister. |