Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 26 January

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office: University of Oxford – Professor Wim Decock appointed as regius professor of civil law, succeeding Professor Wolfgang Ernst.
• Department for Business and Trade: UK's Trade Envoys – Feryal Clark appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Germany. Catherine McKinnell appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Italy. Chris Murray appointed as the UK's trade envoy to France. Catherine West appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Pakistan. Daniel Zeichner appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Türkiye. Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath appointed as the UK's trade envoy to the Horn of Africa, previously the UK's trade envoy to Ethiopia. Ben Coleman no longer the UK's Trade Envoy to Morocco, continues as the UK's trade envoy to Francophone West Africa. Sarah Olney no longer the UK's trade envoy to North Africa. Yasmin Qureshi appointed as the UK's trade envoy to north Africa (Egypt and Algeria), previously the UK's trade envoy to Egypt. Florence Eshalomi appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Anglo West Africa, previously the UK's trade envoy to Nigeria.
• Cabinet Office: Government Commercial Organisation – Rachel King appointed as non-executive director to the Remuneration Committee. Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee – Karen Newman appointed to design a new sculpture of the late monarch in St James Park.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Historic England Board – Sandra Dinneen, Paul Farmer and Dr Patrick Newberry terms as commissioners extended until 9 September. Historic Royal Palaces Board – Caroline Hope appointed as trustee for three years from 9 January until 8 January 2029. Royal Parks – Dr Linda Yueh appointed as chair for four years from 1 March until 28 February 2030.
• Ministry of Defence – Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer appointed as NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander Europe from March, succeeding Admiral Sir Keith Blount. Lieutenant General Eldon Millar appointed as the UK military representative to NATO and the European Union from 20 January, succeeding Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cave.
• Department for Education: Schools Group – Julia Kinniburgh to be appointed interim director, succeeding Juliet Chua; Sinead O’Sullivan will replace Kinniburgh as interim director-general for skills.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Zoë Ware appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and non-resident ambassador to the Republic of the Congo from May, succeeding Alyson King.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Human Tissue Authority – David Lewis appointed as chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee from 1 February.
• Ministry of Justice: Judicial Appointments Commission – Tony Harking and Sarah Pittam appointed as lay commissioners for three years; Siwan Davies appointed as lay commissioner, with responsibility for Welsh matters, for three years.
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Met Office – Dr Florence Rabier appointed as non-executive board member from January.
• HM Treasury – Dr Rohit Dhawan and Harriet Rees appointed as AI champions from 20 January.
• Non-ministerial departments: Government Legal Department – Nicola Sawford appointed as non-executive member and chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for three years; Rachel Sexton appointed as independent member for three years.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, resigned as shadow parliamentary under-secretary of state for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK on 18 January.
• Andrew Gwynne (independent) announced his intention to stand down as MP for Gorton and Denton. Once appointed the steward and bailiff of the Manor of Northstead he will be able to resign from his seat.

Committees

• Finance – Martin Wrigley added; James MacCleary discharged.

House of Lords

• Peter Babudu (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Babudu on 16 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 29 January.
• Catherine MacLeod (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness MacLeod of Camusdarach on 16 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 9 February.
• Farmida Bi (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Bi on 19 January and was introduced in the Lords on 22 January.
• David Isaac (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Isaac on 19 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 2 February.
• Lord Docherty of Milngavie (Labour) and Lord Pitt-Watson (Labour) were introduced in the Lords on 19 January.
• Richard Walker (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Walker of Broxton on 20 January and was introduced in the Lords on 22 January.
• Katie Martin (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Martin of Brockley on 20 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 27 January.
• Baroness Gill (Labour) and Baroness Davies of Devonport (Conservative) were introduced in the Lords on 20 January.
• Geeta Nargund (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Nargund on 21 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 27 January.
• Michael Barber (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Barber of Chittlehampton on 21 January and will be introduced in the Lords on 26 January.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee – Rhoda Grant added; Paul O’Kane discharged.

Scottish Government

• Ruth Binks appointed as chief inspector of education from the end of March, subject to final pre-appointment checks.

Welsh Parliament

• James Evans had the Conservative whip withdrawn on 20 January and was sacked as Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet for health, social care and the Armed Forces. Peter Fox appointed as shadow cabinet secretary for health and social care.
• Health and Social Care Committee – James Evans discharged.

Welsh Government

• Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee – Dr Roisin Willmott appointed as chair for three years from 1 February.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• Justice Committee – Aoife Finnegan added; Danny Baker discharged.
• Procedures Committee – Danny Baker added; Aoife Finnegan discharged.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Education Authority – Reverend Dr Colin McClure appointed as board member from 21 January until 31 March 2029.
• Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust – Norman Haslett appointed as board member until 4 January 2030.

Local authorities

Combined authorities

• Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority – Nick Walkley to be appointed interim chief executive from March.

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