The prime minister Keir Starmer has appointed the cabinet secretary and junior minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan, has been made secretary of state for culture, media and sport. She replaces the former shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire, who lost her Bristol seat in last week’s general election.
Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, has been named the minister of state in DCMS. He has also been appointed minister in the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Nandy, 44, has been in parliament since 2010 and has held a number of frontbench roles while in opposition, including shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change, foreign and commonwealth affairs, and levelling up, housing and communities.
She studied politics at Newcastle University and public policy at Birkbeck, University of London, and previously worked at the homelessness charity Centrepoint and the Children's Society.
Nandy stood in Labour’s leadership election in 2020, coming in third place.
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Following her appointment to Keir Starmer’s new cabinet, Nandy said on X: “From rugby league to Royal Opera, our cultural and sporting heritage runs through our towns, villages and cities and is one of our country’s greatest assets. It is an unbelievable privilege to take on the role of Secretary of State [at DCMS]. The hard work begins today.”
Bryant, 62, has been the MP for Rhondda, south Wales, since 2001. He studied English at Mansfield College, Oxford and gained a further degree in theology. He then worked as a Church of England priest before leaving ordained ministry in 1991. He has held roles at the BBC and the leadership development charity, Common Purpose.
In the previous Labour Government under Gordon Brown, Bryant served as deputy leader of the House of Commons, parliamentary under-secretary of state for foreign affairs and minister for Europe. In opposition he held the roles of shadow minister for welfare reform, shadow minister for the arts, and shadow leader of the House of Commons.
Bryant won the Stonewall Politician of the Year Award in 2011 for his work to support equality for LGBTQ+ people.
He recently announced that he had received treatment for a melanoma on his lung, after overcoming skin cancer five years ago.
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Following his appointment this week, Bryant said on X: “Absolutely delighted. So much to do.”
Nandy said: “Delighted to welcome [Chris Bryant] to the team! Chris brings the wealth of experience, expertise and passion we need to ensure the UK’s incredible creative and cultural sectors can flourish.”
Sharon Heal, the director of the Museums Association, said: “We welcome the announcement of the new secretary of state for culture, Lisa Nandy, and minister of state for culture, Chris Bryant, and look forward to working with them.
“We will be requesting a meeting with them as soon as possible to make the case for how museums are delivering against government priorities and for urgent and strategic investment in the sector.”
I’m hoping the renewed focus on DCMS’s role in the cultural life of England and Wales will remind the Scottish government to do the same. Our Culture Minister role seems to have got lost.
As important as these appointments are we should not forget Angela Rayner. As the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government she is going to be key to the future of UK museums given that the majority of them still come under local government one way or another. It would be good to know how she feels about museums and culture.