Rebecca Paul MP has been appointed by the Conservative Party as shadow culture secretary.

She has been MP for Reigate since 2024 and is a chartered accountant and tax advisor working with companies and charities during a career, which has included a four-year stint as a tax consultant with EY and roles at Diageo and PepsiCo.

During the Covid pandemic she spent four months as a volunteer financial controller for the National Emergencies Trust.

The Shadow Culture Secretary role includes overseeing the Conservative’s policy and strategy around creative, media, sport and civil society.

Paul said it was “an honour” to be appointed to the role, adding “I look forward to championing our amazing creative, media and sporting sectors to grow our economy and strengthen our communities. I can’t wait to get started.”

JOINING THE TEAM: @Rebecca_SPaul is the new Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary.

Rebecca will champion Britain’s creative, media and sporting sectors and the important contribution they make to our economy. pic.twitter.com/ECSPsfj6v9

— Conservatives (@Conservatives) August 31, 2026

She replaces Nigel Huddleston MP, who is a former civil society minister. He moves to the backbenches after seven years on the frontbenches for the party, in government and opposition.

Huddleston wished Paul “very success as she takes on the brief”.

He said: “The DCMS brief has been a particularly special one for me. I worked in these sectors before entering parliament.

“Our arts, culture, creative industries, sport, broadcasting, tourism, heritage and charity sectors make an enormous contribution not only to our economy, but to our national life, our communities and Britain’s place in the world.

“I have been incredibly proud to champion them and to meet so many remarkable people working across the sectors. I am hugely grateful to my team, and everyone who has worked with me, shared their expertise, and supported me during my time in this role.”

Meanwhile, the government has not yet confirmed who will be handling the charities brief at the Department for Culture Media and Sport, a post that had been held by its minister Stephanie Peacock under Keir Starmer’s premiership before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.

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