Political Updates 17 September 2019

This week’s Political Updates covers moves and changes at all levels of government. 

UK Government

Stephen Hickey has been appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, taking over from Jon Wilks.

Fran Leddra and Mark Harvey have been appointed interim joint Chief Social Worker for Adults.

Rehman Chishti will replace Lord Ahmad as Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief.

UK Export Finance has appointed Diego Folino as Country Head at the British Embassy in Mexico.

House of Commons

MP for East Surrey Sam Gyimah has joined the Liberal Democrats. Gyimah was sitting as an Independent after having the Conservative whip removed for voting against the Government.

Catherine McKinnell has been appointed as interim Treasury Committee Chair after the election for Chair was postponed until the House returns.

House of Lords

Conservative peerages are to be given to Byron Davies, David Brownlow, Elizabeth Sanderson, Gavin Barwell, Joanna Penn, Raminder Ranger, Stephen Parkinson and Zameer Choudrey.

Labour peerages are to be conferred on Christine Blower, Debbie Wilcox and John Hendy.

Natalie Bennett is to be awarded a Green Party peerage.

Crossbench peerages are to be given to Harold Carter, Heather Hallett, Kim Darroch, Ruth Hunt and Simon Woolley.

Non-affiliated peerages are to be conferred on John Mann and Margaret Ritchie.

The Duke of Wellington (formerly Conservative) is now sitting as non-affiliated.

The Earl of Oxford and Asquith (formerly Liberal Democrat) is now sitting as non-affiliated.

The Earl of Selborne (previously Conservative) is now sitting as non-affiliated.

Scottish Parliament

Jamie Greene has left the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, and Donald Cameron and Mike Rumbles have been appointed as members.

Jeremy Balfour has been appointed to replace Alison Harris as a member of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.

Alison Harris, Johann Lamont and Oliver Mundell have left the Education and Skills Committee. Beatrice Wishart and Daniel Johnson have been appointed as members.

Rachael Hamilton has been appointed to replace John Scott as a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

Alex Rowley will replace James Kelly as a member of the Finance and Constitution Committee.

James Kelly will replace Daniel Johnson as a member of the Justice Committee.

Sarah Boyack will replace Alex Rowley on the Local Government and Communities Committee.

Maurice Corry has been appointed to replace Rachael Hamilton as a member of the Public Petitions Committee.

Ruth Davidson was elected to replace Jackson Carlaw as a member Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

Neil Findlay will replace Elaine Smith as a member of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.