Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 8 December

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – Reverend Martin Lonsdale Evans appointed as canon of Windsor.
• Department for Business and Trade: Insolvency Service – Duncan Beach appointed as chief executive from 5 January 2026.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Theatres Trust – Louisa Harris, Mark Johnston and Adam Knight appointed as trustees for three years from 2 December until 1 December 2028.
• Ministry of Defence: National Armaments Director Group – Jim Carter appointed as director general for commercial and industry permanently, after serving in the role on an interim basis.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Climate Change Committee – Professor Corinne Le Quéré’s term as non-executive director extended by up to six months until 30 June 2026; Professor Piers Forster re-appointed as non-executive director for five years from 8 January 2026.
• Department of Health and Social Care – Jess Asato appointed as violence against women and girls adviser. British Pharmacopoeia Commission – Dr Emre Amirak re-appointed as member for two years.
• Home Office: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs – Professor David Wood appointed as chair from 1 January 2026, replacing Owen Bowden-Jones.
• Department for Transport – Professor Patricia Thornley appointed as chief scientific adviser from early 2026, replacing Professor Sarah Sharples. 
• HM Treasury: Office for Budget Responsibility – Richard Hughes resigned as chair on 1 December. UK Government Investments – Harry Hampson appointed as chief executive from 29 January 2026, replacing Charles Donald.
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Charity Commission – Dame Julia Unwin appointed as chair for three years from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Markus Campbell-Savours had the Labour whip suspended on 3 November.
• Mark Sewards appointed as parliamentary chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Committees

• Education – Rebecca Paul added; James Cleverly discharged.
• Finance – Euan Stainbank added; Kate Osborne discharged.
• Procedure – Katrina Murray and Kenneth Stevenson added; David Baines and Graeme Downie discharged.
• Public Accounts – Matt Turmaine added; Oliver Ryan discharged.

House of Lords

• The Bishop of Leeds retired from the Lords on 30 November.
• Baroness Stern retired from the Lords on 2 December.
• Lord Stone of Blackheath retired from the Lords on 5 December.

Candidates for the 2026 Lord Speaker election:

• Baroness Bull (crossbench)
• Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative)

Results announced w/c 12 January 2026.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

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

Scottish Government

• Community Justice Scotland – Linda de Caestecker re-appointed as member for two years from 1 March 2026 until 28 February 2028.
• National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group – Professor Alexis Jay appointed as chair from January 2026, including His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate.

Northern Ireland Executive

Business Services Organisation – Sharon O’Connor appointed as non-executive chair from 1 December until 30 November 2029; Alan Todd appointed as non-executive (lay) member until 12 November 2029; Bernadette McCrory and Peter Russell appointed as non-executive (lay) members from 1 December until 30 November 2029; Joseph Stewart appointed as non-executive (lay) member from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2029.

Local authorities

Councils

• Rochdale Borough Council – James Binks suspended as chief executive on 1 December, over allegations of sexual harassment. A replacement is yet to be named.

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