Article: David Styles | Image: CC BY 3.0
Former Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan MP, has been appointed the new Culture Secretary by Britain’s new Prime Minister as he overhauls the cabinet.
Selecting Morgan to lead the DCMS may well be motivated by the prospect of allaying Brexit fears across the creative industries, given that the MP for Loughborough was a prominent campaigner for Remain in the 2016 referendum.
Nicky Morgan has been installed at the head of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in a return to the front bench after a three year absence. Having been a mainstay in David Cameron’s cabinet, Theresa May did not include Morgan in her plans, perhaps due to her pro-Remain stance at a time when the emphasis was perpetually on delivering Brexit.
Following her latest appointment Morgan took to Twitter, saying: “An enormous privilege to take on this fabulous role – although I’m sad to move on from Treasury Committee which I have absolutely loved chairing. Thank you to my fellow Select Committee members & committee staff.”
Ministerial history
Chair of the Treasury Select Committee: July 2017 – July 2019
Secretary of State for Education: July 2014 – July 2016
Minister for Women and Equalities: April 2014 – July 2016
Financial Secretary to the Treasury: April 2014 – July 2014
Economic Secretary to the Treasury: October 2013 – April 2014
As is perhaps predictable, Morgan encountered several controversial issues during her most prominent role to date at the education department. Tuition fees and grammar schools proved the most contemptuous during her jurisdiction.
The sector will now have to await the MP’s approach to cultural matters.
