The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7241 p388
22 March 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Health minister resigns over Iraq war decision

Lord Hunt has resigned his position in the Government as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health because he disagrees with the decision to go to war against Iraq.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme in 18 March, he said: "I don't support the pre-emptive action which is going to be taken without broad international support or indeed the clear support of the British people."

Lord Hunt's portfolio included responsibility for clinical governance, counter fraud activities, the pharmaceutical industry and the Medicines Control Agency. He had previously also been responsible for community pharmacy.

Lord Hunt was the second member of the Government to resign after it became clear that war was inevitable without a United Nations mandate. Shortly after Lord Hunt announced his resignation, a third minister, John Denham (Home Office), who was a former health minister, also resigned. Both resignations came after Robin Cook resigned as Leader of the House of Commons over the same issue.