The public health and primary care minister Steve Brine handed his resignation letter to the Prime Minister yesterday, as he was concerned the UK might leave without a deal following the way the Government is handling Brexit.
He said that by stepping down from his role, he could fully back up the Letwin Amendment – which proposes a number of ‘indicative votes’ on a variety of withdrawal options and was passed in the house of the Commons last night.
Last night I took the difficult decision to step down from my position in Government after almost three https://t.co/UrXoJJ8o8K can read my resignation letter to the Prime Minister here; https://t.co/TTE6gyvvKk pic.twitter.com/jzdZLRxMQU
— Steve Brine MP (@BrineMP) March 26, 2019
How are healthcare twitter users reacting to his announcement?
Dr Wollaston – who last month resigned from the Conservative Party as she could no longer tolerate how her party was dealing with Brexit – welcomed Mr Brine’s move.
https://twitter.com/sarahwollaston/status/1110312605548187649
Obesity Health Alliance, the coalition of 40 organisations working together to influence Government policy, thanked the minister for his commitment to reduce childhood obesity.
In August last year, Mr Brine launched a consultation proposing a ban to the sales of energy drinks to children.
We are sorry to see @BrineMP go. Under his watch as Public Health Minister we have seen huge and very welcome progress on action to reduce childhood obesity including publication of the recent consultation on a 9pm watershed on #junkfoodads. Thanks for all your dedication Steve. https://t.co/nn4YfgNn4N
— Obesity Health Alliance (@OHA_updates) March 26, 2019
Last year, Mr Brine accepted – together with health and social care secretary Matt Hancock – some recommendations to start bowel cancer screening at age 50.
Macmillan Cancer director of policy, campaigns and influence Dr Moira Fraser was sad to see him leave.
@thhamilton Steve Brine’s been a really decent minister. Done lots to push forward on key elements in cancer policy. Sad to see him go.
— Moira Fraser-Pearce (@MoiraFraserPrce) March 25, 2019
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Children, Teens and Young Adults with Cancer also thanked Mr Brine for his attention to the needs of people with cancer.
Thanks to @BrineMP for your work as Cancer Minister and all you've done to champion #YoungCancerVoices in Parliament 👍
Thanks for being part of the APPG's Inquiry into patient experience last year and answering questions submitted by young people with cancer and their families. pic.twitter.com/kwNedbypft
— APPG on Children, Teens & Young Adults with Cancer (@APPGyoungcancer) March 26, 2019
Terrence Higgins Trust, the British charity that advocates for and provides HIV and sexual health services, thanked the departing health minister for his work in this field. Under his tenure, the Government made the commitment to end HIV transmission in England by 2030.
Thank you from all of us at Terrence Higgins Trust to @BrineMP for your support during your tenure as Minister for Public Health.
We are grateful for your championing of HIV & sexual health in government and hope to continue working with you. pic.twitter.com/Ybu33JEKuJ
— Terrence Higgins Trust (@THTorguk) March 26, 2019
The pharmaceutical sector also thanked Mr Brine for his attention to community pharmacies
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee chief executive Simon Dukes said: ‘Over the past year we have made considerable progress in rebuilding a constructive working relationship with Government, and as Minister, Steve Brine had been central to that.
‘He regularly expressed his support for community pharmacy in Parliamentary statements and beyond, and we look forward to continuing to work with him as an MP on pharmacy and public health matters.’
PSNC Chief Executive Simon Dukes comments on Steve Brine's departure from his role as Pharmacy Minister https://t.co/LKvtKJ17Zs pic.twitter.com/8sz5g7RSa9
— Community Pharmacy England (@ComPharmEngland) March 26, 2019
Former pharmacy minister @BrineMP showed a willingness to engage with our sector that we hope will continue as a backbencher. We'll work in partnership with his successor to remedy current unsustainable position in community #pharmacy & make things better for patients & the #NHS
— National Pharmacy Association (@NPA1921) March 26, 2019
