Oliver Dowden named culture secretary after cabinet reshuffle

Oliver Dowden has been appointed culture secretary in the first major reshuffle since December’s general election.

Dowden was an aide to David Cameron before becoming an MP in 2015 and joins the cabinet in place of Nicky Morgan, who stayed on as culture secretary after the election despite stepping down as an MP. Her continued position was temporary.

Prior to the EU referendum in 2016, Dowden campaigned for the UK to remain within the EU.

Dowden will now lead the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, becoming the fifth person in little over two years to hold the secretary of state role in DCMS.

Responding to the appointment, shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin congratulated Dowden and said she hoped he would be a “force for change” on issues such as bridging the arts funding gap in the north.

A statement from the union BECTU said Dowden must be a champion for the creative industries, with its members needing a government that is on their side.

On stepping down, Morgan said: “I’ve loved being DCMS secretary of state and being part of Boris Johnson’s government but it was no secret that I still intended to step back from the cabinet.

“I wish Oliver Dowden all the very best in a brilliant role with a great team and lots of fascinating policy challenges.”