All eyes on Britain's new health chief

LONDON -- He supports homeopathy, a practice that many experts liken to snake oil. He opposes late-term abortion, falling afoul of this mostly pro-abortion-rights nation. During the London Olympics, he offended many Britons with a jab at the cherished National Health Service.

This is Jeremy Hunt, Britain's new health minister. He's been in his job only since Tuesday, but already some fret that his controversial views and general knack for inviting scandal could sow confusion in an already fragile health system.

Hunt's personal beliefs shouldn't influence policy because his job will mostly be to implement reforms that have already been agreed upon. Still, the media slammed Hunt's appointment, mainly basing their criticism on his support of homeopathy.

The headline in The Telegraph read: "Jeremy Hunt as Health Secretary: Are you kidding?" The magazine New Scientist labeled him "the new minister for magic."

Medical views aside, the 45-year-old Conservative ally of Prime Minister David Cameron has already developed an image as a magnet for controversy, notably during his just-completed stint as minister for media, culture and sport.

In that job, he was criticized for maintaining close ties to Rupert Murdoch even as a phone hacking scandal engulfed the media tycoon. Opposition lawmakers said Hunt, whose office had jurisdiction over Murdoch's ambitions to take over a TV station, should face a government inquiry. His adviser, Adam Smith, resigned after the contacts between News Corp. and the minister's office were disclosed.

Some had expected Hunt to be demoted after the scandal. But in his first major cabinet shake-up, Cameron gave Hunt another high-profile job instead. Cameron said ministers would be expected to focus on implementing policies that have already been approved in Parliament, meaning that Hunt is likely to be on a short leash.

Allies defended Hunt's selection.

Stephen Dorrell, who was health secretary between 1995 and 1997, said it was unfair to criticize Hunt for signing a parliamentary motion five years ago in support of homeopathy. "I think if you dig far back enough into everybody's history, you can always find something like that," said Dorrell, rejecting fears that government policy on homeopathy would change.

Hunt's most recent gaffe was questioning whether the country's health service, the NHS, deserved to get a tribute in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Cameron reportedly overruled him. In 2005, Hunt co-authored a book that concluded that the NHS was no longer relevant and it should no longer be run by the government.