Political Updates 4 December 2018

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

  Government

Sam Gyimah has resigned from his position as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit deal (more info).

Professor Piers Forster has been appointed to the post of climate scientist on the Committee on Climate Change (more info).

Lawrie Haynes OBE has been appointed Chair Designate of the NDA subsidiary, Magnox Ltd (more info).

Vice Admiral Timothy Fraser CB is to be promoted Admiral and appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, in succession to General Gordon Messenger (more info).

Vice Admiral Tony Radakin CB is to be promoted Admiral and appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, in succession to Admiral Sir Philip Jones (more info).

Air Marshal Michael Wigston CBE is to be promoted Air Chief Marshal and appointed as Chief of the Air Staff, in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Steven Hillier (more info).

Lieutenant General Patrick Sanders CBE, DSO is to be promoted General and appointed Commander Joint Forces Command, in succession to General Sir Christopher Deverell (more info).

Dr Gillian Fairfield to replace outgoing Chair of the Disclosure and Barring Service Bill Griffiths (more info).

Dale Ashford will take up the position of new Chair of the Northern Ireland Probation Board from 1 December 2018 and will be joined by Neil Bodger, Jonny Byrne, Kelly Clarke, Kieran Donaghy, Theresa Donaldson, Paul Douglas, Patricia Keenan, Max Murray, and Alastair Ross as new Board members. The Secretary State for Northern Ireland has also re-appointed Judith Gillespie, Gearoid O’hEara and David Wall to the Board (more info).

Tom Frawley, Doug Garrett and Colm McKenna have been appointed as independent members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. They will take up office on 1 December 2018 and will join the existing six other independent members who will continue to serve until June 2019.
The following political members have been appointed:
DUP – Keith Buchanan, Joanne Bunting, Gary Middleton, Mervyn Storey
Sinn Fein –Gerry Kelly, Linda Dillon, Philip McGuigan
Alliance – John Blair
SDLP – Dolores Kelly
UUP – Alan Chambers
(more info)

Kip Meek has been appointed to the Competition and Markets Authority panel and as an Inquiry Chair of the panel (more info).

Claire Gilmore has been appointed as a new Traffic Commissioner for Scotland by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling. She will replace Joan Aitken in February 2019. (more info).

James Starkie, special adviser to Michael Gove, resigned to take up a position as aide to Priti Patel. Starkie, who worked for the Vote Leave campaign, resigned in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Jason Stein, previously Liz Truss’ press secretary, is now Amber Rudd’s new media special adviser.

Mark Menzies MP has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Argentina (more info).

House of Commons

Kate Osamor has resigned from her position as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.

Scottish Parliament

Richard Lyle has been discharged from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

Alex Rowley has been named as Deputy Convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee.

National Assembly for Wales

Helen Mary Jones has been appointed as a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.

Sian Gwenllian has been appointed as a Commissioner of the Assembly Commission, replacing Adam Price.

European Parliament

This week, the European Parliament is holding committee and groups sessions in Brussels.