Latest moves – 27 April: Gus O'Donnell appointed to Order of the Garter and more

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – The Rt Hon Lord Justice Stephen Cobb appointed as president of Family Division of the High Court of Justice, succeeding Sir Andrew McFarlane who retired on 13 April.
• Cabinet Office: Infected Blood Memorial Committee – Susan Harris appointed vice-chair, succeeding Joan Edgington. Queen Elizabeth Trust – Sir Damon Buffini appointed as chair.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Forestry Commission – Rebecca Heaton and Mike Kapur appointed as Commissioners for four years; Pamela Abbott and John Varley appointed as Commissioners for three years. Office for Environmental Protection – Dame Helen Ghosh named as preferred candidate for chair, subject to a pre-appointment by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee. Dame Helen is expected to take up the post on 1 June.  LINK
• Department of Health and Social Care: NHS Counter Fraud Authority – Tom Hayhoe appointed as chair for three years from 1 May.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Regulator of Social Housing – Jonathan Walters appointed as chief executive from May.
• Ministry of Justice: Gov Facilities Services Limited – Colin Allars re-appointed as chair until 31 October 2027; James Hayward and Maura Sullivan re-appointed as non-executive directors until 31 October 2027; Ian Deninson re-appointed as non-executive director from 24 May 2027 until 31 October 2027.
• HM Treasury: Royal Mint Advisory Committee – Baroness Stuart re-appointed as chair for five months until July.
• Department for Work and Pensions: Pensions Regulator – Emma Douglas appointed as chair for five years from 1 July, succeeding Kirstin Baker.
• Non-ministerial departments: Competition and Markets Authority – Sir Suma Chakrabarti, David Halpern, Katie Kapernaros and Michael Mire appointed as non-executive directors for five years. Council for Science and Technology – Professor Sarah Sharples appointed as member.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Zarah Sultana (Your Party) suspended from the House of Commons on 22 April.
• Alan Mabbutt to be appointed as electoral commissioner from 1 May until 30 April 2030.

House of Lords

• Lord Skidelsky (Crossbench) died on 15 April.
• Katherine Grainger (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Baroness Grainger on 20 April; the date of her introduction in the Lords is still to be announced.
• Lord Cunningham of Felling (Labour) retired from Lords on 20 April.
• Lord Burnett of Maldon (CB), Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield (CB) and Lord O'Donnell (CB) appointed to the Order of the Garter on 23 April.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Dissolved: 9 April
• Election day: 7 May

Welsh Parliament

• Dissolved: 8 April
• Election day: 7 May

Northern Ireland Executive

• Executive Office – Moira Doherty appointed as permanent secretary on a permanent basis. 
• Public Health Agency – Michael Gibbs, Patricia Kelly and Tom Wright appointed as non-executive (lay) directors until 31 March 2030; John Patrick Clayton’s term as non-executive (trade union representative) director extended until 9 October.
• Safeguarding Board – Evelyn (Lyn) Preece appointed as board member from 1 April until 31 March 2030; Gerard (Gerry) Guckian’s term as board member extended until 2 July.

Local authorities

• Derby City Council – Sam Dennis appointed as interim chief executive for six months from 29 April, succeeding Paul Simpson.

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