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Jacob Rees-Mogg has been named as the new secretary of state for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The Cabinet reshuffle by new prime minister Liz Truss also saw Ranil Jayawardena promoted to environment secretary.
As was expected, previous BEIS secretary Kwasi Kwaretng is the new chancellor of the Exchequer.
Leading up to the announcement it had been widely speculated that Rees-Mogg, previously minister of state for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, would get the BEIS brief. However, there were also rumours that the position would go to Simon Clarke, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, who instead becomes Levelling Up secretary.
Rees-Mogg’s appointment is likely to raise eyebrows among environmental campaigners due to his past comments about net zero, having been labelled a “climate dinosaur” by Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey last month.
Speaking in April if this year, he said: “Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost and that is an issue for the country to face and to face up to.”
He has also spoken of “climate alarmism” and dismissed net zero proponents as “doomsayers”.
Jayawardena meanwhile is likely to be an unknown quantity for many in the water sector. The North East Hampshire MP acted as minister for international trade from May 2020 to September 2022 after entering Parliament in 2015.
Before serving as a minister, he was a member of the International Trade, Home Affairs, Procedure and Arms Export Controls committees. He also served as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
Prior to becoming a politician he worked in the banking, pharmaceutical, construction, transport and leisure sectors.
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