He says a role must be preserved for the health secretary.

It is a "fiction" that the health secretary has responsibility.

This had left him "concerned and unhappy", the health secretary added.

But today the man who wants to be next the Health Secretary did his bit for the local campaign.

When asked what he makes of her, the Health Secretary is lost for words.

He says in an emergency such as a pandemic the health secretary can take direct control.

Alan Johnson, the health secretary, was called back yesterday afternoon to a private meeting, but little progress appeared to have been made on a deal.

The health secretary also said the pause had helped the government to "reconnect" with the public and staff.

How about a directly elected health secretary, independent of the rest of government?

The Health Secretary will make it possible for people to have access to information about hospital performance, including on infection rates.