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industry & government news

CABINET RESHUFFLE: KEY PERSONNEL

CHANGES FOR THE GREEN ECONOMY

IN PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson’s IN: George Eustice to lead Defra QUIT: Sajid Javid resigns ahead
first major cabinet reshuffle since the of ‘green budget’
Conservatives secured a landslide
general election victory, both the
Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (BEIS) and Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra) secretaries have been sacked,
reports edie.net.
Rounding off a dramatic day in
Westminster, Sajid Javid quit as GEORGE EUSTICE
Chancellor, one month before he was due SAJID JAVID
to deliver his first budget announcement. George Eustice has taken the reins at
Defra, having only been given back During his time as Chancellor, Javid
OUT: Villiers and Leadsom his former role as Agriculture Minister had promised to prioritise green
by Johnson in July. He is the seventh spending in his March budget - the
Environment Secretary since 2010. first since the 2050 net zero target was
Fervent Brexiteer Eustice, MP for enshrined in law.
Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, played Javid has been replaced by Rishi
a key role in developing the UK’s Sunak, who steps up from the role of
Agriculture Bill and Fisheries Bill, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Sunak
designed to preserve standards after is a former Goldman Sachs investment
Brexit. He has previously said that analyst and also worked for hedge
environment policy should not come at fund management firm The Children’s
THERESA VILLIERS the expense of trade deals. Investment Fund Management. It is
hoped the Sunak can combine his
IN: Alok Sharma as Business Secretary finance expertise to drive investment
and COP26 President in the green economy, of which he has
some knowledge of.

STAYING: Shapps remains
as Transport Secretary

ANDREA LEADSOM
Environment Secretary Theresa ALOK SHARMA
Villiers and Business Secretary
Andrea Leadsom were appointed to Alok Sharma has been confirmed as
their respective roles in the July 2019 the replacement for Leadsom at BEIS.
cabinet reshuffle, following Johnson’s Sharma was appointed Secretary of GRANT SHAPPS
appointment as Prime Minister. State for International Development
But a little over six months later, on 24 July 2019. The Reading West MP Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
both have been replaced, with George served as Housing Minister between has kept his role. Last August, Shapps
Eustice taking up the Environment 2017 and 2018, and as Employment announced new funding that will
Secretary position while Alok Sharma Minister from 2018 to 2019. enable local authorities across the UK
has been brought in as BEIS Secretary. Sharma has previously called on the to collectively install more than 1,000
The announcement means that World Bank to funnel more investment on-street EV charging points. The
the three big female appointments to tackle climate change in developing Department for Transport (DfT) claims
to climate-related positions of the countries and has pushed for an this will help boost EV uptake among
July cabinet reshuffle have all been “anti-poverty approach” in regards to those who do not have off-street parking.
sacked. Former Energy Minister Claire the UK’s contribution to the Bank’s However, DfT will need to roll
O’Neill was recently removed as COP26 concessional loan facility. out more initiatives to respond to
President for the upcoming climate Sharma has also been named as claims that it is “going rogue” on
conference in Glasgow. COP26 President. As such, Sharma climate change issues by “side-lining”
will oversee the delivery of the climate emissions reductions in its strategies
conference in Glasgow later this year. and projects.

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12/03/2020 12:28
News.indd 2
News.indd 2 12/03/2020 12:28