Dorrell, Stephen James (1952– )

British Conservative politician. As secretary of state for health 1995–97, his office was beset with problems relating to BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or ‘mad cow disease’) and the safety of British beef. His commitment to fund the National Health Service out of taxes and rejection of suggestions that it should become a safety-net for the poor displayed a left-of-centre stance. After the Conservatives' defeat in the 1997 general election, he made an unsuccessful bid for the leadership.

Dorrell was born in Worcester, and educated at Uppingham and Oxford. In 1979 he gave up a career in his father's industrial overall business to become MP for Loughborough. His early appointments in John Major's administration included junior health minister 1990–92, financial secretary to the treasury 1992–94, and secretary of state for national heritage 1994–95.