BRC Notes On The Cabinet Reshuffle
On the 7th of Feb, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak laid out the most recent cabinet reshuffle, in the process creating four new government departments. The new departments change the way we and our members can engage with government, and provide new potential opportunities for having the retail industry's voice heard.
The key headlines are:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Grant Shapps will be the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, having previously headed up BEIS.
The new department will be focused on ensuring security of energy supply, bringing down energy bills to reduce inflation, ensuring the UK is on track to meet it's Net Zero commitments, delivery network infrastructure and green energy, improving energy efficiency of UK homes and other buildings, and delivering the Energy Bill.
Department for Business and Trade
Kemi Badenoch will be the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade, effectively an expansion of her previous role as International Trade Secretary. She will remain in her role as Minister for Women and Equalities.
The new department will focus on economic growth, improving access to finance and delivering a 'pro-enterprise regulatory system', promoting British business internationally (including through FTA's), ensuring economy security and supply chain resilience, removing Brexit regulatory burdens, delivering legislation including Retained EU Law Bill, as well as the Strikes Minimum Service Level Bill.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Michelle Donelan will be the new Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, having previously been the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The new department will focus on optimizing R&D investment, and passing the Online Safety Bill. It will also take over UK Research and Innovation, the body that directs research and innovation funding.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Lucy Frazer will be the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, having previously been Minister of State for Planning and Housing.
The new department will focus on supporting cultural and creative industries, creating a 'broadcasting and media system fit for the 21st century', completing the Gambling Act review, and delivering the National Youth Guarantee.
Other notable appointments were:
- Greg Hands appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Lee Anderson appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Graham Stuart remaining as climate and energy minister
- George Freeman appointed as a science, innovation and technology minister
- Rachel Maclean made a housing minister.
New Opportunities for Engagement
The Cabinet reshuffle provides new avenues for engagement for the BRC and members.
Most notable would be the chance for fresh engagement on business rates with Kemi Badenoch and the newly formed Department for Business and Trade, as the Sunak government looks to further reduce regulatory burdens on business during a period of lagging growth.
Another area we will be looking to engage in will be with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and particularly how we can work with Grant Shapps (through our Climate Action Roadmap) to promote government investment in green technologies and help businesses transition to the green economy. Of major focus will be the areas of on-site renewable energy generation and the rollout of charging infrastructure to support business investment in heavy and light electric vehicles.