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Michelle Donelan reappointed as culture secretary

Michelle Donelan

New PM Rishi Sunak will keep Donelan in the role, first taken under Liz Truss just last month ago.

The new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today announced a reshuffle of the cabinet, a move which sees Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan reappointed to the role.

Donelan was first appointed under Liz Truss, only last month, and will continue to head the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS). She becomes the first Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to serve consecutively under two Prime Ministers.

Donelan is the eleventh Culture Secretary in twelve years.

The Culture Secretary role marks her second position in a Tory cabinet, having been made Education Secretary under Boris Johnson for two days from 5 July to 7 July 2022.

Her appointment under Truss was made following a series of resignations sparked by former PM Boris Johnson’s handling of the Chris Pincher scandal. She replaced Nadhim Zahawi after he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Donelan resigned as Secretary of State after 36 hours in the role. In a resignation letter to Boris Johnson, Doneland wrote: “You have put us in an impossible situation. I am deeply saddened that it has come to this, but as someone who values integrity above all else, I have no choice”

The move made Donelan the shortest-serving cabinet member in British history.

Prior to Sunak’s appointment, Donelan recently told Channel 4 News that he “is a man that is going to steer the ship with all wings of the Conservative Party.”

Earlier this month Donelan condemned the attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage, adding that the UK “will be here every step of the way in your fight for freedom and democracy.”

As previously report, Donelan has expressed her distaste for ‘cancel culture’, writing earlier this year while Minister of State for Higher and Further Education that: “Universities, including their student unions, will face fines for engaging with or supporting cancel culture,” as part of the proposed Free Speech Bill.

Before her time in politics, Donelan started her career in marketing, working first in Australia for Pacific Magazines, and then The History Channel.

She later worked for World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc as an International Marketing Communications Manager.

Shadow Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport Lucy Powell responded to the reappointment, writing: “I’m pleased to see Michelle staying in place as we have the Online Safety bill back next week and lots of other important issues coming up the track which need to happen without further delay.”