Political Updates 22nd July 2019

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

UK Government 

The Rt Hon Lord (Larry) Whitty and the Rt Hon Lord (Eric) Pickles have been appointed to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (more info).

Mrs Justice Carr has been appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal and Mr Justice Arnold, Mr Justice Dingemans, Mr Justice Phillips and Mr Justice Popplewell have been appointed as Lord Justices of Appeal (more info)

Dame Kate Barker, Kru Desai, Edwina Dunn and Steve Unger have been appointed to the Geospatial Commission.

Janis Mumford, Head of Integrated Services at Health Education England (HEE), has been appointed to chair East of England Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee.

Sir Jonathan Thompson is to step down as Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs, to take on a new role as Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Council (more info).

Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, has resigned from the Government.

Sir Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, has resigned from the Government.

House of Commons

Gloria de Piero MP has resigned as the Shadow Justice Minister and has decided not to stand at the next general election.

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP has announced that she will not be standing as a Labour candidate in the next election.

House of Lords

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town has been sacked from the Shadow frontbench for making negative remarks about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party.

National Assembly for Wales

Arwyn Jones has been appointed as the new Director of Communications and Engagement at the National Assembly for Wales.

Political parties

Liberal Democrats

Later today, either Jo Swinson MP or Sir Ed Davey MP will be announced as the next leader of the Liberal Democrats.

European Parliament

Ursula von der Leyen has been elected as European Commission President. She is set to take office on 1 November 2019 (more info).