Grant Shapps has been appointed UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
He takes up the role amid a reshuffle of government Cabinet ministers today (October 25) as new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shapes his top leadership team in Westminster.
Former BEIS secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg resigned earlier today after less than two months in the job under Liz Truss’ short premiership, saying it had been “an honour to serve” in the role.
Shapps was previously Transport Secretary for just over three years in Boris Johnson’s government. He was appointed Home Secretary just one week ago following the departure of Suella Braverman.
Confirming his new role on Twitter, Shapps said he was “delighted to become Business Secretary” in the Sunak administration.
He becomes the sixth BEIS Secretary to hold the office since the department was formed in 2016.