Honorary graduates 2012-13

Rt Hon Alan Milburn (LLD)

Thursday 19 July 2012 11:45am

Alan Milburn was born in Birmingham in 1958 and grew up in County Durham. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Lancaster. He acted as coordinator of the Trade Union Studies Information Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne and as Senior Business Development Officer in North Tyneside Council until his election to Parliament.

Alan was Labour MP for Darlington from 1992 until 2010. He was appointed by Prime Minister Tony Blair as Minister of State for Health in 1997, Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1998 and Secretary of State for Health in 1999. He served in that post until 2003. In 2004-5 he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 2010 Alan became an Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility for the Coalition Government to review and report on child poverty and social mobility.

Alan is also Chair of AFROX, a charity specialising in helping African governments to combat the growing problem of cancer on the continent; Chair of the European Advisory Board of Bridgepoint, a successful mid-market private equity group; and Chair of Mars Global Advisors.