Conservative British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has restructured his cabinet after three months in office. A new Department for Energy Security – led by former Business Secretary Grant Shapps – should ensure energy supplies and lower gas and electricity bills, Downing Street said on Tuesday. Shapps is also responsible for the task of bringing down inflation – one of Sunak’s key promises.
With the reshuffle, commentators say the prime minister wants to get back on the offensive. A good 100 days after taking office, Sunak is already under considerable pressure. It is true that he calmed the financial markets, which had been thrown into chaos by the economic policies of his predecessor Liz Truss. However, he can’t get the scandals in his party under control and so far hasn’t been able to set his own accents.
The new department will be separated from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which in turn will merge with the Ministry of Commerce. The head of department is the former trade minister, Kemi Badenoch. Also new is a Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, to be headed by Michelle Donelan. Their previous department has been reduced to the topic of digital and now takes care of culture, media and sport. MP Lucy Frazer will be in charge.
The reorganization was triggered by the expulsion of the previous Conservative Secretary-General, Nadhim Zahawi, who sat at the cabinet table as a minister with no particular area of responsibility. His successor will be the previous Secretary of State for Trade, Greg Hands.
