Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 29 June

UK government

• Prime minister's Office – Keir Starmer MP announced his resignation as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party on 22 June. He will remain as PM until a Labour leadership contest is completed. There will be a leadership special conference on 17 July if there is only one candidate or 29 August if a contest takes place. 
• Department for Business and Trade – Alastair Long appointed as His Majesty’s trade commissioner for Africa from August, succeeding John Humphrey. Trade Remedies Authority: Nick Baird re-appointed as chair of the board for three years from 11 January 2027 until 10 January 2030. 
• Ministry of Defence: Defence Board – Brian Gilvary re-appointed as non-executive director to the board and chair of the Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for three years until 30 April 2029. 
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Civil Nuclear Police Authority – Chief Constable Simon Chesterman Martin re-appointed as member until March 2028; Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin re-appointed as member until April 2029. 
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Chris Elmore MP appointed as the UK’s special envoy on preventing sexual violence in conflict, succeeding Lord Collins of Highbury. 
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: National Housing Bank – Barry Fowler, Jennifer Murray and Steve Willingham appointed as executive directors from September; Conan McKenzie appointed as chief investment officer from September. 
• Northern Ireland Office – David Johnstone re-appointed as veterans commissioner for Northern Ireland for three years until 31 August 2029.  
• HM Treasury: Office for Budget Responsibility – Prof Jonathan Haskel announced as preferred candidate for chair,  subject to pre-appointment scrutiny of the Treasury Select Committee. 
• Department for Work and Pensions: Industrial Injuries Advisory Council – Prof Damien McElvenny re-appointed as member for five years from 1 December. 
• Non-ministerial departments – Government Economic Service: Alison Kilburn appointed as joint head, working alongside Prof Brian Bell. 

Houses of Parliament 

House of Commons

• Committees: Education – Jodie Gosling added; Chris Vince discharged. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Ben Goldsborough added; Tim Roca discharged. Housing, Communities and Local Government – Jonathan Brash and Ashley Dalton added; Andrew Lewin and Sean Woodcock discharged. Justice – Janet Daby added; Linsey Farnsworth discharged. Select Committee Core Tasks Sub-committee (Liaison Committee) – Karen Bradley, Liam Byrne, Ruth Cadbury, Florence Eshalomi, Patricia Ferguson, Meg Hillier, Bernard Jenkin and Andy Slaughter appointed as members. Modernisation – Amanda Hack added; Leigh Ingham discharged. Science, Innovation and Technology – Tom Collins and Maya Ellis added; Lauren Sullivan and Adam Thompson discharged. Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – Leigh Ingham added; Helena Dollimore discharged. Transport – Daniel Francis added; Baggy Shanker discharged. Treasury – Julie Minns added; Luke Murphy discharged. UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – Will Stone added as Member; Sharon Hodgson discharged as head of delegation; Pete Wishart added as substitute member; Stephen Gethins discharged as substitute member. Women and Equalities – Richard Quigley added; David Burton-Sampson discharged. Work and Pensions – Patrick Hurley and Liz Twist added; Johanna Baxter and Amanda Hack discharged. 

House of Lords 

• Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield (CB) retired from the Lords on 25 June.
• Committees: Deputy Chairmen of Committees – Viscount Colville of Culross added. Built Environment – Baroness Barran and Lord Ravensdale added. Communications and Digital – Viscount Colville of Culross added. Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform – Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town appointed as chair, in place of Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath. Environment and Climate Change – Baroness Coffey and Lord Redwood added. European Affairs – Lord Grantchester added. Finance – Baroness Scott of Bybrook added. Hybrid Instruments – Lord Grantchester added. Industry and Regulators – Lord Camoys added. Justice and Home Affairs – Baroness Berridge and Lord Empey added; Baroness Cash discharged. National Resilience – Baroness Paul of Shepherd's Bush added; Baroness Curran discharged. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Board – Lord Ravensdale added. Procedure and Privileges – Lord Swire added as member; Lord Harlech added as alternate member. Public Services – Lord Johnson of Marylebone and Baroness Redfern added; Baroness Coffey and Baroness O'Neill of Bexley discharged. Restoration and Renewal Programme Board – Lord Vaux of Harrowden added. Secondary Legislation Scrutiny – Lord Blackwater and Lord Evans of Guisborough added. Services – Viscount Goschen added; Baroness Stedman-Scott discharged. UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – Baroness Winterton of Doncaster appointed as head of delegation. 

Devolved administrations 

Scottish Parliament 

• Douglas Lumsden resigned as MSP for the North East Scotland region on 23 June, following his election as MP for Aberdeen South; James Adams appointed as MSP for the North East Scotland region. 

Scottish Government 

• Architecture and Design Scotland – Kirsty Macari’s term as deputy chair extended until 30 September 2026. 

Northern Ireland Executive 

• Jacqui Durkin appointed as Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland from 26 June. 
• Criminal Justice Inspection for Northern Ireland – James Corrigan appointed as acting chief inspector from 26 June, succeeding Jacqui Durkin. 
• Libraries NI – Paul Greenfield appointed as board member from 18 June until 17 June 2030. 

Local authorities 

Councils 

• Croydon Council – Elaine Jackson to stand down as interim chief executive in September. 
• Newham Council – Maria Christofi appointed as chief executive from 13 July,  replacing Paul Martin. 

Combined Authorities 

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority – Paul Dennett appointed as interim mayor, following the disqualification of Andy Burnham as mayor after he was elected as MP for Makerfield. A mayoral election will be held on 30 July – a statement of persons nominated is due to be released on 6 July. 

Police and Crime Commissioners 

• Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner – by-election takes place on 16 July, following the resignation of Sarah Taylor. 

Discover Dods People: Your ultimate stakeholder management solution. Dods People is a comprehensive online service that provides unparalleled access to political representatives and public affairs professionals across the UK and EU. Book your demo now to explore the power of Dods People