The Prime Minister has appointed a new Secretary of State for Business and Trade as four new departments are created – a combined Department for Business and Trade, a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; a dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; and a re-focused Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Kemi Badenoch will take up the role of Secretary of State for Business and Trade, while remaining president of the Board of Trade, and minister for Women and Equalities.
Kemi Badenoch was previously Secretary of State for International Trade, appointed on 6 September 2022. She was Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities between 16 September 2021 and 6 July 2022, and Minister of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Equality Hub between 14 February 2020 and July 2022.
Badenoch was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 13 February 2020 to 15 September 2021 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education from 27 July 2019 to 13 February 2020.
The appointment comes in another cabinet reshuffle which also sees Grant Shapps become Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michelle Donelan become Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Lucy Frazer become Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, and Greg Hands become Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office.
