Labour criticises nomination of Andrew Lansley for top UN job

Labour has criticised the David Cameron’s “unbelievable” decision to put forward sacked cabinet minister Andrew Lansley for a top humanitarian job at the United Nations.

Mary Creagh, the shadow development secretary, said it appeared the prime minister has gifted a “top UN humanitarian job as consolation prize to Andrew Lansley for sacking him” as leader of the House of Commons.

The job of the UN’s humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator has been vacated by Baroness Amos, and the job has been a British-held role since 2007, although it is not reserved for someone from the UK.

Downing Street has declined to comment on whether the former minister will be nominated, but Lansley’s office told Channel 4 News: “There will be a UN recruitment process and he would not wish to pre-empt that or take it for granted.”

There was a strong hint during the reshuffle over the summer that Lansley was being lined up for a major international role, even though he did not get the nomination to be the UK’s European Union commissioner.

During his time as health secretary Lansley oversaw the coalition’s controversial NHS reforms. He was moved aside for Jeremy Hunt, and then once again from his role as leader of the House of Commons when William Hague stepped down as foreign secretary. In his resignation letter Lansley thanked Cameron for supporting him in his ambition to find a “challenging and important role in international public service”.

Lord Malloch Brown, the former UN deputy secretary-general and a crossbench peer, said if Lansley got the job it would be a sign Cameron had used the global organisation for a “political dumping”.

He told Channel 4: “This is one of the most difficult, important jobs in the world. There are millions of people in desperate situations from Ebola victims to victims of war in Syria who are highly dependent on the humanitarian activities of the UN. It’s an act of great cynicism to allow someone who does not have background and qualification in this area to be put forward.”