Leadsom appointed BEIS minister

By James Wallin

Andrea Leadsom has been appointed the new secretary of state for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Earlier this evening (24 July) Greg Clark was sacked by new prime minister Boris Johnson from his role at the head of BEIS, which he has held for the past three years.

The MP for Tunbridge Wells was unavailable for comment but on Twitter he congratulated Johnson and said: “He is right to appoint a new team for a new premiership and I wish him and them well for the vital work ahead.”

Claire Perry, currently on leave from her post as minister of state for energy, has accepted the new prime minister’s offer to become COP26 president and said she had agreed to step aside from her current role.

Perry described her time at BEIS as “a privilege”, pointing out the delivery of the Clean Growth Strategy, the PPCA, Smart Export Guarantees, offshore wind deals and the COP26 bid as highlights. 

Meanwhile, Michael Gove has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the effective deputy prime minister. Theresa Villiers has taken his role at DEFRA.

Liz Truss, had been a frontrunner for the energy minister role but has been announced as secretary of state for international trade.

Leadsom resigned from her role as leader of the House of Commons in May, having served in the role for two years. Prior to that she was environment secretary and during the Coalition years she held the position of minister of state for energy at what was then the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Spelthorne MP Kwasi Karteng and the new prime minister’s brother, Jo Johnson, have also been appointed as ministers of state at BEIS.