Conversative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has announced a new shadow secretary for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of her reshuffle today, 22 July.
Nigel Huddleston will take on the brief, replacing Stuart Andrew in the role, after he was shifted across to shadow Health Secretary.
Andrew was the gambling minister in April 2023 when the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review was released.
Huddleston served as the minister responsible for the white paper between February 2020 and September 2022, with the review commitment part of the Tories’ 2019 election manifesto.
The MP has represented the Droitwich and Evesham constituency since last year’s general election. He has also served as the party’s co-chair since November.
Shifting back to a DCMS remit marks Huddleston’s return to either a government or shadow role. From November 2023 until July 2024, he was a financial secretary at the Treasury.
He also worked in the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for International Development under former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
It is expected that the shadow gambling minister Louie French will remain in his post, with Huddleston serving as the most senior minister in the department.
Speaking on his appointment, Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst welcomed his return to supporting the gambling industry.
She said: “We warmly welcome Nigel Huddleston MP to his new role. He knows our industry well and has always championed evidence-based policy and open dialogue.
“We look forward to working with him and his team on the important issues facing our sector, from supporting sport and high street jobs to promoting safer gambling.
“We’d also like to thank Stuart Andrew MP for his constructive engagement and wish him every success in his new role at the Department of Health.”
Huddlestone’s arrival in the post comes as the UK gambling industry finds itself in its latest state of flux.
The Treasury’s consultation into a single, unified tax rate closed this week, while an All-Party Parliamentary Group is insisting on an inquiry into gambling regulations.
Baroness Fiona Twycross continues to serve as the government’s gambling minister.
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Nigel Huddleston, who previously worked closely with the gambling industry during his time in government, gets promoted as part of shadow cabinet shake up
The post BGC welcomes shadow DCMS chief as part of Conservatives reshuffle first appeared on EGR Intel.