Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 2 March

Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People

UK government

  • Prime Minister's Office – The Venerable Richard (Rick) Simpson appointed as the Bishop of Durham, replacing The Right Reverend Paul Butler.
  • Department for Business and Trade: British Hallmarking Council Graham Mogg and Bev Stait appointed as council members for three years until 31 December 2028; Gay Penfold re-appointed as council member for three years until 31 December 2028. Companies House Dr Ros Rivaz appointed as chair for three years from 1 March, replacing John Clarke. Competition and Markets Authority –Doug Gurr appointed as permanent chair for three years from 1 March, replacing John Clarke.
  • Cabinet Office – Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service from 19 February.
  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport: British Library – Professor Dame Carol Black’s term as chair extended from 1 September until 31 August 2027. Independent Football Regulator – Mark McCafferty, Kevin Miles, Justine Roberts, Tara Warren and Dr Linda Yueh appointed as non-executive directors for five years from 18 February until 17 February 2031. Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art – Andrew Hochhauser KC re-appointed as chair from 17 September until 6 September 2030.
  • Department for Education – Sir Kevan Collins appointed as delivery adviser to the secretary of state.
  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Great British Energy – Nuclear – David Goldstone, Richard Morse, Gareth Price, Tracy Sheedy and Dr Rebecca Weston appointed as non-executive directors to the board.
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Marine Management Organisation – Laura Dance and Terry Jones appointed to the Board for three years from 1 May.
  • Home Office – Simon Ridley appointed as acting permanent secretary, following Dame Antonia Romeo’s appointment as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service. Security Industry Authority – Mike Cunningham appointed as chair for three years from 1 March, replacing Heather Baily.
  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Homes England – Alison Crofton appointed as chief regional delivery officer from 1 March; Paul Murphy appointed as chief risk officer from 1 March.
  • Ministry of Justice: Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass) – Jenny Coles appointed as board member for four years from 1 March until 28 February 2030; Natalie Trentham appointed as board member for four years from 14 May until 13 May 2030. Independent Monitoring Boards – Jane Leech MBE appointed as Interim National Chair from 16 February until 31 October.

Non-ministerial departments

  • Charity Commission – Rory Brooks CBE and Shrenik Davda re-appointed as Board Members for three years from 27 March until 26 March 2029.
  • Serious Fraud Office – Graham McNulty appointed as interim director from 6 April replacing Nick Ephgrave.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

  • Gorton and Denton by-election result: Hannah Spencer won the seat for Greens with a majority of 4,402 on 26 February. The turnout was 48%.

House of Lords

  • The Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford (Con) returned to the Lords from suspension on 17 February.
  • Lord Addington (Lib Dem, hereditary peer) was created a life peer as Baron Hubbard on 18 February.
  • Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab) retired from the Lords on 23 February.
  • Earl Attlee (Con, hereditary peer) retired from the Lords on 26 February.
  • Baroness Leaman (Lib Dem) was introduced in the Lords on 26 February.

Parties

Reform UK

‘Shadow cabinet’ roles announced on 17 February:

  • Leader: Nigel Farage
  • Deputy leader and shadow secretary of state for business, trade and energy: Richard Tice MP
  • Shadow chancellor of the Exchequer: Robert Jenrick
  • Shadow home secretary: Zia Yusuf
  • Shadow secretary of state for education and skills: Suella Braverman

Your Party

Central Executive Committee announced on 26 February:

  • Public office holders: Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Grace Lewis and Laura Smith
  • North East Region: Catherine Davis and Hannah Hawkins
  • London Region: Noor Jahan Begum and Melecia Mullings
  • West Midlands Region: Megan Clarke and Sue Moffat
  • South East Region: Cassandra Bellingham and Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi
  • Wales Region: Maria Donnellan
  • North West Region: Dawn Aspinall and Sam Gorst
  • Yorkshire and The Humber Region: Monique Mosley and Sophie Wilson
  • East of England Region: Solma Ahmed and Jo Rust
  • East Midlands Region: Riaz Khan and Louise Regan
  • South West Region: Jennifer Forbes and Candi Williams
  • Scotland Region: Niall Christie

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

  • Scottish Fiscal Commission – Scottish Parliament officially agreed with the recommendation of the Scottish Government and the Finance and Public Administration Committee that Professor Graeme Roy be re-appointed as chair.

Scottish Government

  • Borders College – Ray McCowan re-appointed as chair of the board of management for four years until 31 January 2030.
  • Dumfries and Galloway College – Caroline Stuart re-appointed as chair of the board of management for four years until 31 January 2030.
  • Scottish Agricultural Wages Board – Abdul Elghedafi and Judith O’Leary appointed as members for three years from 1 April until 31 March 2029.
  • Scottish Ambulance Service Board – Tom Steele’s term as chair extended for seven months from 1 June until 31 December.
  • Scottish Charity Regulator – Ellie Craig appointed as member for four years from 1 April until 31 March 2030.
  • Public Inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse – Alexis Jay to be appointed chair.

Welsh Government

  • Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – Andrew Morgan announced as preferred candidate for chair.
  • Disused Tips Authority for Wales – Christina Harrhy appointed as chief executive for four years from 13 April.
  • Social Care Wales – Katija Dew announced as preferred candidate for chair, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Senedd on 4 March.

Northern Ireland Assembly

  • Public Accounts Committee – Tom Buchanan appointed as deputy chair, replacing Diane Forsythe.
  • Economy Committee – Diane Forsythe appointed as deputy chair, replacing Gary Middleton.

Northern Ireland Executive

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – Dr Scott King appointed as non-executive board member for three years from 1 March.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust – Professor Stuart Elborn appointed as non-executive chair from 1 March until 28 February 2030.

Belfast Metropolitan College – Lauren McAteer, Seamus McGoran and Yvonne Murphy re-appointed as members to the governing body for four years.

Northern Ireland Museums Council – Jessica Hoyle appointed as chair from 1 February until 31 January 2030; Ruth Balmer, Liesa Johnston, Celine McStravick and Laura Patrick appointed as board members from 1 February until 31 January 2030.

Northern Regional College – Denise McIlwaine re-appointed as member to the governing body for four years.

North West Regional College – Dr Siân Fisher, Mary Gormley, Charlene Shongo and Peter Thompson re-appointed as members to the governing body for four years.

Probation Board for Northern Ireland – Bria Mongan appointed as deputy chair until 29 February 2028.

Southern Regional College – Gary McMurray and Hilary Singleton re-appointed as members to the governing body for four years.

South West College – Sandra Isherwood, Anne McCleary and Dr Lynsey Quinn re-appointed as member to the governing body for four years.

Local authorities

Councils

  • Buckinghamshire Council – Zina Etheridge appointed as chief executive from April.
  • Suffolk County Council – Mark Ash and Andrew Cook appointed as joint chief executives from 1 April, replacing Nicola Beach.

Combined authorities

  • Cumbria Combined Authority – John Barradell appointed as interim chief executive from 18 March.
  • West Midlands Combined Authority – Ed Cox appointed as chief executive on a permanent basis from 13 February.

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