Ministerial Shuffleboard

In what can only be described as an incredibly dramatic four weeks in British politics, we’ve seen the results of a referendum to leave the European Union, the resignation of a Prime Minister, mass departure of members of Her Majesty’s Opposition from the frontbench, two leadership elections (one of which is still ongoing), the swift appointment of Britain’s second female Prime Minister, Theresa May, and a ministerial reshuffle of sizeable proportion… Who ever said politics was boring!

Digging beneath the headlines, I’m going to take a look at these recent changes, pick out some key new appointments, and explore what this might mean for the sport and recreation sector.

Prime Minister May’s new Cabinet

Only five members of David Cameron’s top team remain in their original positions. Notable by their absence, both Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan lost out in the reshuffle and have returned to their positions as backbench MPs. The Prime Minister has taken a decisive approach to the formation of her ‘new look’ Cabinet, handing out promotions to a number of former Home Office colleagues and leadership rivals.

The ‘Great Offices of State’, so-called because they are traditionally the most senior and prestigious posts in government, have gone to Philip Hammond, Amber Rudd and Boris Johnson (Chancellor, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary respectively).

Elsewhere, Jeremy Hunt is one of the few to retain his role – as Health Secretary – but there have been considerable changes lower down the pecking order and in other departments too.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Most people will already have noticed that we have a new Secretary of State at DCMS, Karen Bradley, who replaces veteran MP John Whittingdale. A largely unfamiliar face to the majority of the general public, Karen Bradley has been a junior minister at the Home Office for the past three years and was formerly a government whip. During her time as Minister for Preventing Abuse, Exploitation and Crime, her portfolio included anti-social behaviour, gangs, youth violence, modern slavery and mental health. Although her interest and experience in sport is not well known, in January of this year, she visited AIR Sports Network to discuss their ongoing work with councils to reduce gang-related violence. Although too early in her tenure to tell, it is likely that the Secretary of State might choose to pursue this social value of sport angle in her new role.

I’m sure that members will be delighted to see that Tracey Crouch has been kept on in her role as Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage. A good sign for the continuity of the Government’s Sporting Future strategy.

In other DCMS news, eagle-eyed observers will have noticed that the brief of Minister for Civil Society has been moved from the Cabinet Office, and now sits alongside culture, media and sport. The position is still filled by Rob Wilson, whose responsibilities include, amongst other things, volunteering, social investment and youth policy.

In the Lords, Lord Ashton of Hyde has replaced Baroness Neville-Rolfe as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and will take on an active role at the despatch box promoting and defending departmental policy. 

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Former leadership contender, Andrea Leadsom, has been given the top job at DEFRA. It is widely acknowledged that her role here will focus on Brexit-affected industries such as fishing and farming, and also future flood prevention. Thérèse Coffey takes on the role of junior Minister (formerly Rory Stewart) with responsibility for the natural environment and rural affairs. This *could* be good news for outdoor recreation; Thérèse is a former member of the CMS Select Committee and a football fan.

Department of Health

Although Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt stays firmly in place, his junior ministerial team looks remarkably different. Gone are Jane Ellison and Alistair Burt (off to the Treasury and backbenches respectively), and in come Nicola Blackwood and David Mowat. Although Nicola Blackwood takes over the role of Minister for Public Health with responsibilities largely unchanged, the new Minister for Community and Health and Care will no longer have direct responsibility for all mental health policy (only dementia care) – instead this now falls under the Secretary of State’s remit.

However, Jeremy Hunt has appointed James Morris, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health, as his new Parliamentary Private Secretary. A well-known campaigner on mental health issues, who helped us to celebrate our one-year anniversary event for the Mental Health Charter, James Morris should bring real insight to the Department.   

Department for Education

Replacing Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening, formerly at DfID, becomes the new Education Secretary. The first state-school educated Conservative holder of this post, Justine Greening is also the Minister for Women and Equalities. This could mark an interesting and positive shift in the relationship between these two ministerial briefs.

Nick Gibb and Edward Timpson both remain as Ministers at the Department, and will continue in their roles of schools and children and families. An addition to the Department is the position of Minister of State with responsibility for apprentices and skills. It will be interesting to see if the movement of this brief from former BIS department will mark any change in policy.  

Department for Work and Pensions

At the top level, Damian Green sees a return to frontline politics as the new Secretary of State at Work and Pensions. Penny Mordaunt, who was a former Director at the Big Lottery Fund before she entered politics, has taken on the role of Minister with responsibility for disability sport. This position was previously held by Justin Tomlinson, who has made a return to the backbenches where he was quickly elected as Chair of the APPG for Sport (replacing newly promoted Chris Heaton-Harris who now serves as a Government Whip).

Department for Transport

DfT has gained a new Secretary of State – Chris Grayling – who has previously held a number of Government posts. The reshuffle, which has seen a number of people moved, including keen cycling and walking champion Robert Goodwill, has also prompted a change in some departmental and ministerial briefs. Cycling and walking now resides in junior minister Andrew Jones’s portfolio. Those members with an interest in CWIS might well breathe a sigh of relief; Andrew Jones appears to be an avid sport and recreation fan and has previously engaged with Alliance campaigns on the Mental Health Charter.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Sajid Javid keeps his place at the Cabinet table, but the Prime Minister has chosen to move him sideways into the Department for Communities and Local Government. Marcus Jones retains his position as Minister for Local Government, which includes responsibilities for adult social care, children’s services and community rights.

Minister of Justice

Former DEFRA Secretary, Liz Truss, has been transitioned to the head the MoJ. Whilst Sam Gyimah and Phillip Lee take up the junior role of Minister for Prisons and Probation and Minister for Victims, Youth and Family Justice respectively.  

If you would like to know more about the recent changes, you can find further information and the full list of ministerial appointments here.

Labour Party shadow reshuffle

In other news, the Labour Party has been conducting its own reshuffle. Whilst Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell still remain the Shadow Leader and Shadow Chancellor, their frontbench team looks remarkably different to this time one month ago. Kelvin Hopkins has been appointed as the new Shadow CMS Secretary, but at present, he has no junior shadow minister for sport. You can find the full list of Shadow Cabinet members here.

Other news

Finally, the Chair of the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, Jesse Norman, has stood down following his promotion to Government. There will be an election to choose his successor, details of which will be announced in due course.

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