UK gets new culture secretary

MP Karen Bradley has been appointed UK culture secretary, taking over from John Whittingdale.

The move was announced yesterday, during Theresa May’s first full day as prime minister, as part of a broad cabinet shake-up that resulted in a number of senior ministers being replaced.

Bradley has been the member of parliament for Staffordshire Moorlands since 2010 and a home office minister since 2014.

As secretary of state for culture, media and sport she will have overall responsibility for strategy and policy in areas that include broadcasting, media ownership, creative industries and arts and culture.

Announcing his departure on Twitter, Whittingdale said: “Has been a privilege to serve as Culture Secretary. I wish my successor every success and will continue to support creative industries.”

Whittingdale, who is member of parliament for Maldon, was appointed culture secretary in May 2015.

Earlier this year he set out the new terms of the BBC Royal Charter in a government white paper on the future of the public broadcaster, and was criticised from within the TV industry for appearing to push for privatising pubcaster Channel 4.