Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carried out the first cabinet reshuffle of his premiership on 7 February 2023. The reshuffle saw a significant restructuring of a number of government departments, and gave Sunak the opportunity to fill the vacancy left by Nadhim Zahawi after he was dismissed as Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio on 29 January 2023, following a scandal surrounding his tax affairs.
The reshuffle saw a significant restructuring of government departments. The Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) were merged to form the new Department for Business and Trade. The energy and climate policy responsibilities of BEIS were spun off to form the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The science and innovation policies of BEIS were combined with the digital portfolio of the former Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to form the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The DCMS continues as the newly constituted Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Cabinet-level changes Colour key Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle Rt Hon Greg Hands MP Minister of State for Trade Policy Chairman of the Conservative PartyMinister without Portfolio Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Secretary of State for International TradePresident of the Board of Trade Secretary of State for Business and TradePresident of the Board of Trade Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon Oliver Dowden MPChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterSecretary of State in the Cabinet OfficeChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Junior ministerial changes Colour key Minister Department before reshuffle Department after reshuffle Rachel Maclean MP Backbench MP Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Energy Security and Net Zero George Freeman MP Science, Innovation and Technology Nus Ghani MP Business and Trade Kevin Hollinrake MP Nigel Huddleston MP International Trade Maria Caulfield MP Andrew Bowie MP Energy Security and Net Zero Paul Scully MP Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Science, Innovation and Technology
Whips' Office appointments Whip Previous position New position Stuart Anderson MP Assistant Government Whip Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury Ruth Edwards MP Backbench MP Assistant Government Whip
Conservative Party appointments Appointee Position before appointment New party position Lee Anderson MP Backbench MP Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
See also Sunak ministry Premiership of Rishi Sunak 2023 in politics and government
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References
External links Making Government Deliver: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow policy paper forwarded by Rishi Sunak outlining the restructuring of the UK Government in February 2023.