Matt Hancock leaves as culture secretary after only six months to take health role
Culture secretary Matt Hancock has been named as the new health secretary, just six months into the job as Prime Minister Theresa May fills gaps in her Government caused by the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis.
Former culture secretary Matt Hancock
Amidst a fall out within her Government following the agreement of May’s Brexit proposals, foreign secretary Johnson has resigned to be replaced by health secretary (and former culture minister) Jeremy Hunt. In turn, Hunt will be succeeded by Hancock who took on the role having previously been digital minister in January.
In a tweet, Hancock said: “Really looking forward to joining @DHSCgovuk at such an important time for our great NHS. I can’t wait to get started”.
He followed up with: “Loved the last two years @DCMS and thank you to all the brilliant digital dynamos, artists & mission-driven civil servants, who worked so hard to achieve so much #ThankYou”
In his few months in the role, Hancock called for an improvement in tech investment for Britain and for introducing the prospect of social media regulation.
He told The Drum just last month; “We are working particularly with the big tech companies, of which there are now more than a dozen,’ he explained of the project. “One of the reasons to move to legislation is to move to a level playing field: to keep people safe and to allow for innovation in the future particularly to allow start ups to thrive. So we are working with tech companies and society to make sure we get the balance right. I’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the decision to legislate. There is a clear mood for it and enthusiasm for it but we’ve got to get the details right which is why we’re working with other clients partner countries. We will do it anyway but if we do it in the same way as our colleagues around the world then it’s all for the good.”
Attorney General Jeremy Wright is the new culture secretary.