Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 22

UK government

• Ministry of Defence: Eastern Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee – Ian Andrews, Barrie Griffiths, Diane Palmer and James Wright appointed as members for three years until 11 February 2027. South West Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee – Ceri Bowen, Barry Firth, Iain Henderson, Karl Jones, Natasha Mason and Garry Pither appointed as members for three years until 11 February 2027.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Mary Creagh appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state on 18 July.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Hamish Falconer appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state on 18 July. Baroness Chapman of Darlington appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state on 18 July. Lisa Chesney appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Uganda from October, succeeding Kate Airey who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Kate Dearden and Martin McCluskey appointed as assistant government whips on 18 July.

House of Lords

• Lord Smith of Finsbury was non-affiliated, now Labour.
• Lord Boyd of Duncansby (non-affiliated, life peer) granted a leave of absence on 17 July.
• Lord Ranger of Northwood (non-affiliated, life peer) suspended from the service of the House for three weeks from 18 July.
• Sir Patrick Vallance raised to the peerage as Lord Vallance of Balham on 17 July and was introduced in the Lords on 18 July.
• Jacqui Smith raised to the peerage as Baroness Smith of Malvern on 17 July and was introduced in the Lords on 18 July.
• Richard Hermer raised to the peerage as Lord Hermer on 18 July and will be introduced in the Lords on 22 July.
• James Timpson raised to the peerage as Lord Timpson on 18 July and will be introduced in the Lords on 22 July.
• Lord Gardiner of Kimble re-appointed as senior deputy speaker (chair of committees) for this session.
• Committee of Selection – Lord Gardiner of Kimble John Gardiner re-appointed as chair; Lord Bichard, Lord Geddes, Lord Jones, Lord Kennedy of Southwark, Earl of Kinnoull, Lord Newby, Baroness Smith of Basildon, Lord Stoneham of Droxford, Lord True, Baroness Williams of Trafford re-appointed as members.

Political parties

Labour

• Jessica Morden elected as chair of the parliamentary Labour Party.
• Luke Akehurst, Gurinder Singh Josan and Melanie Onn appointed as PLP representatives on the National Executive Committee.

Devolved administrations

Welsh Parliament

• Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee – Natasha Asghar added; Samuel Kurtz discharged.
• Standards of Conduct Committee – Samuel Kurtz added; Natasha Asghar discharged.

Welsh Government

• Vaughan Gething announced intention to stand down as first minister of Wales once a new leader of Welsh Labour is elected.
• Mick Antoniw resigned as general counsel.
• Lesley Griffiths resigned as cabinet secretary for culture and social justice.
• Jeremy Miles resigned as cabinet secretary for economy, energy and the Welsh language.
• Julie James resigned as cabinet secretary for housing, local government and planning.
• Jane Hutt appointed as cabinet secretary for culture and social justice and continues as Trefnydd and chief whip
• Ken Skates appointed as cabinet secretary for the economy, continues as cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales
• Eluned Morgan appointed as cabinet secretary for Welsh Language, continues as cabinet secretary for health and social care
• Jayne Bryant appointed as cabinet secretary for local government and housing, previously minister for mental health and early years
• Rebecca Evans continues as cabinet secretary for finance, constitution and the Cabinet Office
• Huw Irranca-Davies continues as cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs
• Lynne Neagle continues as cabinet secretary for education
• Sarah Murphy appointed as minister for mental health and early years, previously minister for social partnership
• Jack Sargeant appointed as minister for social partnership, previously chair of the Petitions Committee
• Dawn Bowden continues as minister for social care
• Rhian Bowen-Davies appointed as older people’s commissioner for Wales from August.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• Timothy Gaston co-opted as MLA for North Antrim on 16 July.

Local authorities

• Richmond and Wandsworth Councils – Mike Jackson to stand down as chief executive in the autumn.
• Wiltshire Council – Lucy Townsend appointed as chief executive.