Alok Sharma is the new secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy (Beis). Andrea Leadsom is out.
Beis minister Chris Skidmore has also been replaced in this morning’s reshuffle, describing it as a promotion.
Having previously been an energy minister at Decc, Leadsom was dropped into Beis to replace Greg Clark in July after Boris Johnson took over as prime minister and sacked those seen as loyal to the old regime. As such, with Brexit and the election dominating the parliamentary agenda, Leadsom had not had time to do much.
Sharma will also be in charge of COP26. The member for Reading West was previously the secretary of state for International Development.
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Leadsom: Energy storage “a top priority”
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So what does he know about climate change and energy? His on-line biography says nothing about even an interest in Environment – his background is in banking and finance?