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Creative Ed Vaizey

Ed Vaizey confirms '#vexit' as he's replaced by Matthew Hancock as culture minister

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By Gillian West, Social media manager

July 16, 2016 | 4 min read

Ed Vaizey, minister of state for culture, communications and creative industries has left the government.

Announcing the move on his Twitter account on Friday (15 July), Vaizey tweeted: "Looking forward to supporting the government from the backbenches #vexit."

Earlier this week Vaizey hinted he may be serving his final days as a minister, reflecting on his role, he said: "Politics is very fluid at the moment so in case things don't go my way under the new prime minister I wanted to say thank you to the colleagues I've worked with over the last six years."

West Suffolk MP Matthew Hancock will replace Vaizey in the role. Hancock was the minister for the cabinet office and paymaster general and previously served jointly as minister of state for business and enterprise and minister of state for energy in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

Hancock tweeted he was "sad to see #vexit" and praised Vaizey's work over the past six years.

Former culture secretary John Whittingdale, who was replaced earlier this week by Karen Bradley as part of the new prime minister Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle, also tweeted expressing his sadness at the news.

Whittingdale's sentiments have been echoed by a number of other colleagues, allies and business who have tweeted their support for Vaizey since the news broke.

Of his successor Vaizey said it was a "brilliant appointment" as Hancock "knows tech sector well and will strongly support arts."

Following the news of Bradley's appointment on Thursday (14 July) The Drum investigated what her appointment would mean for the advertising industry.

Creative Ed Vaizey

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