Political Updates 6th January 2020

This week’s Political Updates, covers moves and changes at all levels of government.

UK Government

The Prime Minister has appointed René Olivieri as interim Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) for 6 months from 01 January 2020 to 01 July 2020 (more info).

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt. Hon Julian Smith MP, has appointed Councillors Allan Bresland, Catherine Elattar and Michael Ruane and Alderman Amanda Grehan to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) Board (more info).

The Labour leadership contest has five officially declared candidates: Emily Thornberry, Keir Starmer, Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips.

Ed Davey, the Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has announced the party’s new team of spokespeople in the House of Commons. The full list can be found below:

Ed Davey – Acting Leader, Economy and Social Justice

Christine Jardine – Home Office, Women and Equalities

Alistair Carmichael – Foreign Affairs & Brexit, Chief Whip

Wera Hobhouse – Climate Emergency, Energy and the Environment

Tim Farron – Housing, Local Government, Food and Rural Affairs, North of England

Layla Moran – Education

Munira Wilson – Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Transport

Jamie Stone – Defence

Sarah Olney – Business and Trade

Daisy Cooper – Justice, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Wendy Chamberlain – Political & Constitutional Reform, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, International Development

In addition, Siobhan Benita will attend meetings of the team as London Spokesperson, while Dick Newby, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, will shortly announce a new team of Lords spokespeople.