Rishi Sunak appoints Greg Hands as Conservative party chair in cabinet mini-reshuffle
The Guardian says Rishi Sunak has promoted the trade minister Greg Hands to replace Nadhim Zahawi as Conservative party chair as he carries out a mini-reshuffle to try to reassert his grip over his divided party.
The prime minister has also conducted a shake-up of Whitehall by splitting the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy into three new departments to better reflect his priorities.
There were no sackings, with existing ministers moved to lead the new departments. Grant Shapps, the existing business secretary, will lead the new energy security and net zero department, while Kemi Badenoch will run business and trade while retaining her equalities brief.
The new science, innovation and technology department will be run by Michelle Donelan, while Lucy Frazer will be promoted to culture, media and sport.
