Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 28

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People

By Dods People

28 Dec 2023

@dodspolintel

UK Government

Cabinet Office: House of Lords Appointments Commission – Rt Hon Sir Hugh Robertson and Wayne Reynolds appointed as independent members for five years from 21 December.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport – Julia Lopez returned from maternity leave as minister of state for media, tourism and creative industries on 20 December; John Whittingdale MP has returned to the backbenches. Victoria and Albert Museum – Allegra Berman, Amanda Levete and Amanda Spielman re-appointed for four years from 1 March 2024 until 29 February 2028.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Mark Bryson-Richardson appointed as the foreign secretary’s representative for humanitarian affairs in the Occupied Palestine Territories.
Ministry of Justice: Criminal Procedure Rule Committee – Amy McEvoy appointed as the justices’ legal adviser member for four years. Legal Services Board – Flora Page re-appointed as non-lay member for four years from 1 August 2024.
Northern Ireland Office: Parades Commission for Northern Ireland – Evelyn Collins appointed as chair; Billy Gamble, Nicola Rountree and Derek Wilson appointed as members for three years from 1 January 2024; Pauline Wilson and Rachel Quigley appointed as members for three years from 31 March 2024.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – Julia Lopez MP returned from maternity leave as minister of state for data and digital infrastructure on 20 December; John Whittingdale MP has returned to the backbenches.
HM Treasury – Rachel Kent appointed as the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner for five years from 1 January 2024, succeeding Amerdeep Somal.
Department for Work and Pensions – Mims Davies MP appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state for disabled people, health and work.
Non-Ministerial Departments: Competition and Markets Authority – Jessica Radke appointed as deputy general counsel from early 2024; Naomi Burgoyne appointed as senior director for mergers; Dan Turnball appointed as senior director for markets. Ofqual – Frances Wadsworth appointed as interim chair of the board for 12 months from 1 January 2024.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

A by-election will take place to elect a new MP for Wellingborough after a recall petition attracted sufficient support for the removal of Peter Bone. He sat as a Conservative from 2005 until 17 October this year and as an Independent until his removal from the Commons on 19 December. A date for the by-election has yet to be announced.
Andrew Bridgen resigned from the Reclaim Party on 20 December. He will sit as an Independent MP.
Defence Committee – current nominations for chair are: Rehman Chishti and Jeremy Quin

House of Lords

Lord Douglas-Miller (Conservative, life peer) was introduced in the Lords on 18 December.

Local Authorities

Brighton and Hove City Council – Jess Gibbons appointed as chief executive from 18 March 2024.
Cherwell District Council – Gordon Stewart appointed as chief executive.
Waverley and Guildford Borough Councils – Pedro Wrobel appointed as joint chief executive from February 2024.

Industry

Professional Bodies

Chartered Insurance Institute – Alan Vallance to stand down as chief executive at the end of December 2023; Gill White appointed as acting chief executive.

Interest Groups