Former civil society minister Nigel Huddleston has been appointed shadow culture secretary following a reshuffle by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Huddleston was a Conservative government Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) minister for two years until 2022, including a year as civil society minister.

As shadow culture secretary he becomes the Conservative’s frontbench spokesman on culture, media, sport and charity sector issues, which is within the DCMS's remit.

He replaces Stuart Andrew, who is another former civil society minister and has been promoted to the role of shadow health and social care secretary.

Prior to taking the shadow culture secretary brief Huddleston was co-chair of the Conservative Party.

In a post on social media Huddleston, who is MP for Droitwich and Evesham, said he is “delighted to take over the shadow DCMS brief so ably championed by Stuart Andrew”.

He added: “I am passionate about all DCMS sectors and am honoured to have been asked by Kemi to take on this new challenge.”

It has been a privilege to serve as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside the brilliant Lord Johnson.

Thank you CCHQ team and the thousands of loyal activists I met fighting the Conservative cause right across the country (showcased in my CCHQ wall of campaign photos… pic.twitter.com/SzdKqJHGk9

— Nigel Huddleston MP (@HuddlestonNigel) July 22, 2025

During his stint as charities minister Huddleston pledged to build partnerships between government and civil society, amid concerns that his policy remit was too wide.

His appointment as civil society and youth minister in 2021 was in addition to his existing remit overseeing heritage, tourism and sport as an assistant government whip. This gave him one of the most extensive ministerial policy briefs under the premiership of Boris Johnson.

In a speech that year Huddleston said that he is “committed to building and maintaining an open and constructive” partnership between government and charities”.

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