Health minister gives birth to second child

Yvette Cooper, the health minister responsible for maternity services, has given birth to her second child.

Ms Cooper, 32, had a 7lb 13oz (3.5kg) boy on Friday after a nine-hour labour at Pontefract General Infirmary in her Yorkshire constituency, the Department of Health announced yesterday. Ms Cooper will become the first serving minister to take maternity leave, a move welcomed by campaigners for maternity rights. They believe it will set a good example to employees and employers.

A former journalist at The Independent, Ms Cooper is married to Ed Balls, the chief economic adviser to the Chancellor, Gordon Brown. The couple, who have called the baby Joel, have a two-year-old daughter, Meriel.

Ms Cooper will be on maternity leave until December and Mr Balls is taking paternity leave. She is entitled to the same benefits as others in her department, so she will draw her full salary for the 18 weeks. This is more generous than the legal minimum, which entitles mothers to 18 weeks' paid leave ­ six weeks at 90 per cent of full pay and the rest at £62.20 a week.