Jeremy Wright has been appointed as the new secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport – a role that also requires oversight of charities on the government agenda.
Wright, who is the MP for Kenilworth and Southam, will replace Matt Hancock in the role, who has taken on the role of health secretary after Jeremy Hunt was promoted to foreign secretary.
DCMS Permanent Secretary Dame Sue Owen welcomes Jeremy Wright as the new Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. pic.twitter.com/31I6rgJex6
— DCMS (@DCMS) July 10, 2018
The appointment has come in the wake of a number of resignations from the likes of Boris Johnson and David Davies, both of whom stepped down from their positions as foreign and Brexit secretary respectively over the plan for Brexit that was agreed last Friday.
Commenting on his appointment, Wright wrote on Facebook: “Very excited to be starting a new job this morning as Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, a department whose work has a huge impact on our heritage, the things we enjoy now and on our national future.”
Matt Hancock also took to social media to say he has “loved the last two years” at the DCMS.
Loved the last two years @DCMS and thank you to all the brilliant digital dynamos, artists & mission-driven civil servants, who worked so hard to achieve so much #ThankYou
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) July 9, 2018
Wright was previously an attorney general, where he took the decision to close down the National Fund, a charity which was set up to pay off the national debt, which has generated £475m, but spent no money on its overall mission.
However, he came under fire from the sector when he decided the government should keep the money rather than pass it onto the charity sector.
He has also been criticised for his lack of digital expertise, notably a lack of active Twitter account, despite being the new culture for digital.
The Government's new Secretary of State for DIGITAL and CULTURE and MEDIA (and sport) doesn't even have a Twitter account. @TwitterSupport - can you please offer Jeremy Wright some support?
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@DrRosena) July 9, 2018
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