Political Updates 28 April 2020

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

UK Government

Paul Smith has been appointed Non-executive Board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Peter Clarke’s term of office as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, has been extended by up to six months, commencing 1 May 2020.

Christine Tacon has had her term as Groceries Code Adjudicator extended for a period of up to six months from 1 June 2020.

The Government has launched an open competition to appoint the next Independent Reviewer of the Prevent programme.

House of Commons

Elections to determine Chairs of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (to replace Rachel Reeves who was appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) and the Standards Committee (to replace Kate Green who was appointed Shadow Minister for Child Poverty Strategy) will take place on 6 May 2020. Only members of the Labour Party may be candidates.

House of Lords

Lord Alderdice, Lord Bates, Lord Duncan of Springbank, Lord McNicol of West Kilbride and Lord Russell of Liverpool have been appointed Deputy Chairmen of Committees on the panel of members.

Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford has replaced Baroness Penn on the Science and Technology Committee.

Scottish Parliament

Willie Coffey, Annabelle Ewing, Shona Robison, Stewart Stevenson, Murdo Fraser, Adam Tomkins, Monica Lennon, Ross Greer, Beatrice Wishart have been appointed members of a new COVID-19 Committee. The Convener will be a member of the Conservative Party (TBC) and the Deputy Convener will be a member of the Labour Party (TBC).

Northern Ireland Assembly

Joanne Bunting has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Audit Committee.

Labour Party

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon has been appointed Race Relations Adviser, leading a review into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

Marsha de Cordova has been appointed Lead on Equality and Inclusion within the party.

Sam Tarry appointed Parliamentary Lead (Campaigns and Organisation) (reporting to Party Chair).

Tulip Siddiq has been appointed Parliamentary Lead (Party Development), reporting to Party Chair.