Political Updates 2 June 2020

Stay on top of latest political appointments – covering recent changes and moves at a national level in UK politics.

UK Government

Rosamund Blomfield-Smith, Kim Shillinglaw, Kerry ten Kate and Peter Unwin have been appointed to the Natural England board for three years commencing 1 June 2020.

Kayley Hignell has been appointed to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). Existing member Grainne McKeever has been re-appointed to the Committee for a second term; and Jim McCormick’s current appointment has been extended to October 2020.

Ros Rivaz has been appointed as Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. He will replace Tom Smith from 1 September 2020.

Ian Ackerley has been reappointed as Chief Executive of the National Savings and Investments for three years.

Harris Bokhari and Yadvinder Malhi have been appointed as Trustees of the Natural History Museum.

Chris Grayling and Mark Cecil have been appointed as Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery.

Chris Pilling and Ismail Amla have been appointed as board members of UK Sport.

Nicholas Hopkins has been reappointed as Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law at the Ministry of Justice.

Nick Baker has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer Charity Commission. He will take up this role in August.

Nick de Bois has been appointed as Chair of Visit England.

David Spiegelhalter and Richard Dobbs have been appointed as non-executive board members of the UK Statistics Authority.

Patrick McLoughlin has been appointed as Chair of the British Tourist Authority.

House of Commons

Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury, has resigned from her role as Whip after admitting breaking lockdown rules (more info).

House of Lords

Lord Woolmer (Labour, Life Peer) retired on 26 May.

Northern Ireland Executive

Barry Fitzpatrick has been reappointed as Acting Chair of the Industrial Court. Barbara Martin, Patrick Masterson, Patricia O’Callaghan and Robin Bell have been appointed as members.

Gordon Smyth has been reappointed as Finance Non-Executive Director of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Sinead Bradley has replaced Patsy McGlone as a member of the Justice Committee.

Labour Party

David Evans has been elected as the General Secretary.