Latest civil service & public affairs moves – August 2 to September 20

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – Ailsa Terry appointed the prime minister’s private secretary for foreign affairs. Michael Dooley appointed as His Majesty’s lord-lieutenant of the County of Dorset from 4 September. Catherine Maxwell Stuart appointed as lord-lieutenant for Tweeddale from 1 September, succeeding Sir Hew Strachan following his retirement. Sir Michael Barber appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on effective delivery for 12 months from September. Martin Hewitt appointed as border security commander. The Venerable Rhiannon King appointed as Suffragan Bishop of Southampton, succeeding The Right Reverend Deborah Sellin following her translation to Bishop of Peterborough. The Right Reverend Timothy Wambunya appointed as Bishop of Wolverhampton, succeeding Bishop Clive Gregory following his retirement.
• Cabinet Office – Clara Swinson appointed as second permanent secretary, head of mission delivery unit. Advisory Committee on Business Appointments – Baroness Thornton appointed as member. Government Property Agency – Mark Bourgeois appointed as permanent chief executive.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Horserace Betting Levy Board – Anne Lambert appointed as interim chair from 16 September until June 2025. Royal Parks – Loyd Grossman re-appointed as chair from 1 September until 31 May 2025.
• Department for Education: School Teachers’ Review Body – Mike Aldred re-appointed as chair for three years from 1 September; Mark Cornelius and Claire Tunbridge re-appointed as board members for three years from 1 September; Harriet Kemp and Andrew Waller’s terms as board members extended for 9 months until 31 May 2025. Student Loan Company – Susan Bradford, Abdul Elghedafi, Joanne Smith and Victoria Smith re-appointed as independent assessors for three years from 1 September.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – Harriet Kemp appointed as non-executive board member for three years from 1 September
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Bharat Joshi appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Republic of Angola and non-resident ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe from October, succeeding Roger Stringer who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Matt Woods appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon and His Majesty’s non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea from September, succeeding Barry Lowen who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. David Wallace appointed as acting high commissioner to Malaysia from 30 August until 2025. Nick Low appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Maldives from January 2025, succeeding Caron Röhsler. Richard Crowder appointed as head of British Office Sudan and UK special representative to Sudan, succeeding Giles Lever. Jonathan Powell appointed as the prime minister’s special envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago. Andrew Murdoch appointed as governor of Bermuda from January 2025, succeeding Rena Lalgie.
• Department of Health and Social Care – Tom Riordan appointed as second permanent secretary from 23 September. Paul Corrigan appointed by the government to help shape health plans for 12 months. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – Dr Junaid Bajwa, Professor Graham Cooke, Dr Paul Goldsmith and Rajakumari Long’s terms as non-executive directors extended from 1 September until 31 August 2025.
• Home Office: Biometric and Forensics Ethics Groups – Giles Herdale, Dr Matt James, Professor Penney Lewis, Elisabeth Mackay, Dr Malcolm Oswald and Professor Marion Oswald appointed as members for three years. Biometric and Surveillance Camera Commissioner – Tony Eastaugh stood down in August. Police Remuneration Review Body and National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body – Jacqui Siggers appointed as member for three years from 1 August.
• Ministry of Justice: Parole Board – Cecilia French appointed as chief executive from 1 October.
• Law Officers – Catherine Smith KC appointed as advocate general for Scotland on 29 August and will receive a life peerage in due course.
• Northern Ireland Office: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland – Nazia Latif appointed to the commission for three years from 1 September. Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission – Mairead Holder appointed as commissioner for three years from 1 September until 31 August 2027.
• Privy Council Office – Baroness Morgan of Ely and John Swinney appointed as privy counsellors on 28 August.
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Building Digital UK – Hazel Hobbs appointed as interim chair from 1 September.
• Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland: Office for the Advocate General of Scotland – Adam McKinlay, Alan Cowan, Andrew Crawford, Andrew Crosbie, Ayla Iridag, Carla Fraser, Chris Stephen, David Massaro, Elisabeth Roxburgh, Giles Reid, Graham Middleton, Grant Markie, Kirsty Tyre, Megan Dewart, Neale Tosh, Ross Anderson, Simon Crabb and Yvonne Waugh reappointed. Clara Smeaton, Gavin Dingley, Mark Hastings, Rachel Breen and Scott Clair appointed.
• HM Treasury: Monetary Policy Committee – Alan Taylor appointed as member for three years from 2 September. UK Government Investments – Vindi Banga re-appointed as chair for three years.
• Department for Work and Pensions: Industrial Injuries Advisory Council – Lesley Francois, Dr Jennifer Hoyle and Daniel Shears re-appointed as members from 1 September.
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Ofqual – Sir Ian Bauckham announced as the government’s preferred candidate for chief regulator. He will attend a pre-appointment hearing before the Education Select Committee later this year.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

Elections of Committee chairs:

• Backbench Business – Bob Blackman elected on 9 September.
• Business and Trade – Liam Byrne re-elected on 11 September.
• Culture, Media and Sport – Caroline Dinenage re- elected on 9 September.
• Defence – Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi elected on 11 September.
• Education – Helen Hayes elected on 11 September.
• Energy Security and Net Zero – Bill Esterson elected on 11 September.
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Alistair Carmichael elected on 9 September.
• Environmental Audit – Toby Perkins elected on 11 September.
• Foreign Affairs – Emily Thornberry elected on 11 September.
• Health and Social Care – Layla Moran elected on 9 September.
• Home Affairs – Karen Bradley elected on 11 September.
• Housing, Communities and Local Government – Florence Eshalomi elected on 11 September.
• International Development – Sarah Champion re-elected on 11 September.
• Justice – Andy Slaughter elected on 11 September.
• Northern Ireland Affairs – Tonia Antoniazzi elected on 9 September.
• Petitions – Jamie Stone elected on 9 September.
• Procedure – Cat Smith elected on 11 September.
• Public Accounts – Geoffrey Clifton-Brown elected on 11 September.
• Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs – Simon Hoare elected on 11 September.
• Science, Innovation and Technology – Chi Onwurah elected on 11 September.
• Scottish Affairs – Patricia Ferguson elected on 12 September.
• Standards – Alberto Costa elected on 11 September.
• Transport – Ruth Cadbury elected on 11 September.
• Treasury – Meg Hillier elected on 9 September.
• Welsh Affairs – Ruth Jones elected on 9 September.
• Women and Equalities – Sarah Owen elected on 11 September.
• Work and Pensions – Debbie Abrahams elected on 11 September.
• Liaison Committee – Debbie Abrahams, Tonia Antoniazzi, Bob Blackman, Ruth Cadbury, Alistair Carmichael, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Alberto Costa, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Florence Eshalomi, Bill Esterson, Patricia Ferguson, Helen Hayes, Simon Hoare, Ruth Jones, Layla Moran, Chi Onwurah, Sarah Owen, Toby Perkins, Andy Slaughter, Jamie Stone and Emily Thornberry added; Karen Bradley, Liam Byrne, Sarah Champion, Caroline Dinenage, Meg Hillier and Cat Smith re-appointed as members.
• Modernisation Committee – Lucy Powell appointed as chair; Mike Amesbury, Alex Barros-Curtis, Markus Campbell-Savours, Wendy Chamberlain, Christopher Chope, Sarah Coombes, Chris Elmore, Kirith Entwistle, Paulette Hamilton, Marie Goldman, Joy Morrissey, Chris Philp, Jo Platt and Lucy Powell appointed as members.

House of Lords

• Lord Livingston of Parkhead was a Conservative peer, now a non-affiliated peer.
• Lord Ranger of Northwood’s (Conservative, life peer) suspension from House of Lords ended on 8 August.
• Caroline Pidgeon raised to the peerage as Baroness Pidgeon, of Newington in the London Borough of Southwark on 12 August and was introduced in the Lords on 3 September.
• John Spellar raised to the peerage as Lord Spellar, of Smethwick in the County of the West Midlands on 12 August and was introduced in the Lords on 2 September.
• Rosie Winterton raised to the peerage as Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, of Doncaster in the County of South Yorkshire on 13 August and was introduced in the Lords on 2 September.
• Barbara Keeley raised to the peerage as Baroness Keeley, of Worsley in the City of Salford on 13 August and was introduced in the Lords on 3 September.
• Margaret Hodge raised to the peerage as Baroness Hodge of Barking, of Great Massingham in the County of Norfolk on 14 August and was introduced in the Lords on 4 September.
• Margaret Beckett raised to the peerage as Baroness Beckett, of Old Normanton in the City of Derby on 14 August and was introduced in the Lords on 4 September.
• Kevan Jones raised to the peerage as Lord Beamish, of Beamish in the County of Durham on 15 August and was introduced in the Lords on 11 September.
• John Cryer raised to the peerage as Lord Cryer, of Leyton in the London Borough of Waltham Forest on 15 August and was introduced in the Lords on 9 September.
• Minette Batters raised to the peerage as Baroness Batters, of Downton in the County of Wiltshire on 16 August and was introduced in the Lords on 10 September.
• Tom Elliott raised to the peerage as Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard, of Ballinamallard in the County of Fermanagh on 16 August and was introduced in the Lords on 5 September.
• Harriet Harman raised to the peerage as Baroness Harman, of Peckham in the London Borough of Southwark on 19 August and was introduced in the Lords on 10 September.
• Graham Brady raised to the peerage as Lord Brady of Altrincham, of Birch-in-Rusholme in the County of Greater Manchester on 19 August and was introduced in the Lords on 5 September.
• Alok Sharma raised to the peerage as Lord Sharma, of Reading in the Royal County of Berkshire on 20 August and was introduced in the Lords on 9 September.
• Chris Grayling raised to the peerage as Lord Grayling, of Ashtead in the County of Surrey on 20 August and was introduced in the Lords on 11 September.
• Liam Booth-Smith raised to the peerage as Lord Booth-Smith, of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the County of Staffordshire on 21 August and was introduced in the Lords on 12 September.
• Theresa May raised to the peerage as Baroness May of Maidenhead, of Sonning in the Royal County of Berkshire on 21 August and was introduced in the Lords on 12 September.
• Eleanor Laing raised to the peerage as Baroness Laing of Elderslie, of Epping Forest in the County of Essex on 22 August and will be introduced in the Lords in due course.
• Hilary Cass raised to the peerage as Baroness Cass, of Barnet in Greater London on 22 August and will be introduced in the Lords in due course.
• Craig Mackinlay raised to the peerage as Lord Mackinlay of Richborough, of Rochester in the County of Kent on 23 August and will be introduced in the Lords in due course.
• Lord Owen (Independent Social Democrat, life peer) retired from the Lords on 13 August.
• Public Services Committee – Baroness Campbell of Surbiton discharged.
• Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills – Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd re-appointed as chair; Baroness Andrews, Viscount Bridgeman, Baroness D’Souza, Lord Eames, Viscount Eccles, Viscount Hanworth, Baroness Mallalieu, Lord Razzall, Lord Rowlands, Baroness Seccombe and Baroness Thomas of Winchester re-appointed as members.
• Joint Committee on Human Rights – Lord Alton of Liverpool, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and Lord Murray of Blidworth re-appointed as members; Baroness Meyer discharged.
• Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy – Lord Browne of Ladyton, Lord Butler of Brockwell, Baroness Crawley, Lord Dannatt, Baroness Fall, Lord Robathan, Lord Sarfraz, Lord Snape, Viscount Stansgate and Baroness Tyler of Enfield re-appointed as members.
• Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments – Lord Beith, Lord Chartres, Lord Haselhurst, Lord Meston, Lord Sahota, Baroness Sater and Lord Watson of Wyre Forest re-appointed as members.

Parties

Conservatives

Leadership contest candidates:

• Kemi Badenoch MP
• James Cleverly MP
• Robert Jenrick MP
• Tom Tugendhat MP
• Priti Patel MP and Mel Stride MP have been knocked out of the contest. The final result will be announced on 2 November.

Liberal Democrats

New frontbench team announced on 18 September:

• Ed Davey – leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Deputy leader and spokesperson for Treasury – Daisy Cooper 
• Wendy Chamberlain – chief whip
• Spokesperson for health and social care – Helen Morgan 
• Spokesperson for education, children and families –  Munira Wilson 
• Spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs – Tim Farron 
• Spokesperson for Cabinet Office – Sarah Olney 
• Spokesperson for foreign affairs – Calum Miller 
• Spokesperson for home affairs – Lisa Smart 
• Spokesperson for women and equalities and for Scotland – Christine Jardine 
• Spokesperson for justice – Josh Babarinde 
• Spokesperson for business – Sarah Gibson 
• Spokesperson for energy security and net zero – Pippa Heylings 
• Spokesperson for housing, communities and local government – Vikki Slade 
• Spokesperson for transport – Paul Kohler 
• Spokesperson for science, innovation and technology – Victoria Collins 
• Spokesperson for culture, media and sport – Max Wilkinson 
• Spokesperson for defence – Helen Maguire 
• Spokesperson for work and pensions – Steve Darling 
• Spokesperson for Wales – David Chadwick 
• Spokesperson for Northern Ireland – Al Pinkerton 
• Spokesperson for London – Luke Taylor 
• Spokesperson for hospitals and primary care – Jess Brown-Fuller 
• Spokesperson for care and carers – Alison Bennett 
• Spokesperson for mental health – Danny Chambers 
• Spokesperson for universities and skills – Ian Sollom 
• Spokesperson for trade – Clive Jones 
• Spokesperson for international development – Monica Harding
• Spokesperson for Europe – James MacCleary
• Spokesperson for housing and planning – Gideon Amos
• Shadow leader of the House of Commons – Marie Goldman
• Shadow attorney general – Ben Maguire
• Deputy chief whip – Tom Morrison

Social Democratic and Labour Party

• Justin McNulty had the SDLP whip restored.
• Colum Eastwood to stand down as leader on 5 October.

Alliance Party

• Stephen Farry stood down as deputy leader.

Scottish Conservatives

Meghan Gallacher stood down as deputy leader.

Ulster Unionist Party

Doug Beattie stood down as leader.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Parliament

• John Mason had the SNP whip suspended on 17 August.
• Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee – Daniel Johnson added; Foysol Choudhury discharged.
• Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee – Fulton MacGregor added; Gordon MacDonald discharged.
• Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee – Michael Matheson added; Ben Macpherson discharged.
• Public Audit Committee – James Dornan added; Fulton MacGregor discharged.

Scottish Government

• Christina McKelvie, minister for drugs and alcohol policy, to take medical leave to undergo treatment for secondary breast cancer. Her ministerial duties will be covered by health secretary Neil Gray and public health minister Jenni Minto.

Welsh Parliament

• Petitions Committee – Carolyn Thomas elected as chair on 17 September.
• Standards of Conduct Committee – Hannah Blythyn elected as chair on 17 September.
• Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee – Sam Rowlands added; James Evans discharged.

Welsh Government

• Eluned Morgan officially nominated as first minister of Wales on 6 August.
• Julie James officially nominated as counsel general on 17 September.
• Bovine TB Eradication Programme Board – Sharon Hammond appointed as chair; Sian Evans was, Alan Gardner, Gemma Haines, Professor Glyn Hewinson, Roger Lewisis, Evan Roberts and Philip Thomas appointed as members; the chief veterinary officer for Wales, the head of Welsh Government Bovine TB policy and a representative from the Animal and Plant Health Agency appointed as ex-officio members.
• Clean Air Advisory Panel – Dr Rachel Adams, Professor Martin Clift, Dr Ulli Dragosits, Professor Enda Hayes, Dr James Heydon, Kieran Laxen, Dr Iq Mohammed Mead, Dr Ed Rowe, Professor Gavin Shaddick and Professor Dudley Shallcross appointed as members.
• Sport Wales – Judi Rhys, Phil Tilley and Martin Veale re-appointed as board members from 1 September until 30 September 2025.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• Assembly and Executive Review Committee – Michelle Guy added; Kate Nicholl discharged.
• Economy Committee – Colin Crawford and Kate Nicholl added; Doug Beattie discharged.
• Education Committee – Michelle Guy and Peter Martin added; Cheryl Brownlee and Kate Nicholl discharged.
• Executive Office Committee – Timothy Gaston added; Pádraig Delargy discharged.
• Justice Committee – Stephen Dunne added.
• Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee – Jonathan Buckley and Kate Nicholl added; Stephen Dunne and Connie Egan discharged.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Ema Cubitt appointed as Northern Ireland’s first independent autism reviewer for five years.
• Eddie Lynch appointed to a caretaker role in the Office of Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland for six months.
• Professor Siobhan O’Neill re-appointed as mental health champion for Northern Ireland for three years from 29 August.
• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute – Professor Grace Mulcahy appointed as chair from 1 November.
• Belfast Harbour Commissioners – Ronan McLaughlin, Jenna Maghie, Ryan Murphy and Nicola Verner appointed as non-executive councillor members for four years.
• Charity Commission – Leanne McCullough appointed as commissioner to the board from 15 August until 14 August 2029.
• Labour Relations Agency – Gordon Milligan re-appointed as chair; Geraldine Alexander, Clare Duffield, Kevin McCabe and Lee Wilson re-appointed as members of the Board until 30 April 2027.
• Middletown Centre for Autism – Colette Deery, Andrew Magowan, Maeve Marnell and Kim Scott appointed as directors until 31 March 2027.
• Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission – Patricia Mac Bride appointed as member for five years from 3 September until 2 September 2029.

Local authorities

• Birmingham City Council – Graeme Betts to step down as acting chief executive.
• Bristol City Council – Nick Hibberd appointed as chief executive from January.
• Essex County Council – Gavin Jones to retire as chief executive in spring 2025.
• Leeds City Council – Mariana Pexton appointed as interim chief executive from 23 September.
• Maldon District Council – Doug Wilkinson appointed as chief executive from October.
• Neath Port Talbot Council – Frances O’Brian appointed as chief executive.
• Nottingham City Council – Sajeeda Rose appointed as chief executive.

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