PM drops ‘digital’ and makes MP Lucy Frazer Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport

The mini-reshuffle created four new government departments, including one for technology and innovation.

By Abbey Bamford Feb 7, 2023 3:50 p.m. Feb 7, 2023 3:51 p.m

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Lucy Frazer, MP for South East Cambridgeshire, as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in a portfolio reshuffle that will also remove ‘digital’ from the portfolio.

After five months in that role, former Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan will lead the newly formed Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.

Who is Lucy Frazer?

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Frazer, the Yorkshire-born MP, received a private secondary education and went on to Cambridge University. Before being elected to Parliament, she practiced law and was appointed Queen’s Counsel (Senior Trial Lawyer) in 2013.

She was elected MP for Southeast Cambridgeshire in 2015 and has since held many positions within government, from Minister for Transport, Prisons and Probation, to Treasury Secretary and Treasury. Most recently she was Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning, a position she held from October 2022 before being appointed Minister for Culture.

Frazer’s new role as culture secretary is something of a promotion because although she was previously secretary of state, this is her first position as foreign secretary.

Despite having little design background, Frazer spoke at a RIBA event on January 31, 2023 – Beauty: Who cares, wins! – on how government and industry can work together to integrate design into the planning process, leading to more sustainable communities.

In the 2016 referendum, Frazer supported Britain remaining in the EU. She is better known for introducing a Private Member’s Bill to Parliament to make upskirting a criminal offense in England and Wales. The bill received royal assent on February 12, 2019 and was passed.

In November 2021, when Frazer was Finance Secretary, she was accused of a conflict of interest after a £15billion government deal was drafted with a firm run by her husband.

What are the new departments?

The Culture, Media and Sport department was renamed and refocused, with “Digital” being dropped from its department. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the importance of these remaining industries to the UK economy is being better recognised, and it seeks to build on the country’s global position as a leader in the creative arts space.

Instead of the now defunct departments for economic, energy and industrial strategy, three new departments have been created that also want to cover the “digital” area that has been dropped from the Ministry of Culture.

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Former culture minister Michelle Donelan will lead the new department for scientific innovation and technology. Donelan is due to take maternity leave this year and it has not yet been announced who will take her place during that time. The Prime Minister’s Office says: “A single department focused on turning scientific and technological innovations into practical, applicable solutions to the challenges we face will help ensure Britain is the most innovative economy in the world.”

Grant Shapps – previously business secretary – will take on the role of secretary of state for energy security and Net Zero, another new department. This department has been tasked with cutting bills and halving inflation as the government seeks to understand and take action on the impact of war in Ukraine and energy insecurity.

Former Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch will head the new Department for Business and Trade with the aim of “supporting British businesses at home and abroad”, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

She adds that the changes and rebalancing of capabilities are the result of the prime minister’s five promises: “halve inflation, boost the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats”.

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Source: www.designweek.co.uk