Morgan named UK culture secretary

New UK prime minster Boris Johnson has appointed Nicky Morgan MP as the latest secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.

Nicky Morgan

The appointment means Morgan becomes the eighth culture secretary in nine years at the department, which is responsible for government policy relating to broadcasting, the internet, the creative industries and sport.

She replaces Jeremy Wright, who held the position for just over a year and has not been given a new role in Johnson’s cabinet. Morgan has been the MP for Loughborough since 2010 and previously served as secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities between 2014 and 2016.

Johnson has begun his first full day as the UK’s new prime minister today after replacing Theresa May.

Major UK TV developments during Wright’s time as culture secretary included pubcaster Channel 4’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Leeds and the approval of a £57m (US$71m) fund for programming for young audiences.

Wright also looked to allay industry around the UK’s exit from the European Union, which continues to loom over the sector. Wright said at last year’s Edinburgh International Television Festival that the UK government would support the country’s broadcast industry in Brexit negotiations to protect the sector.

Meanwhile, the UK’s House of Lords Communications Committee this year launched an inquiry into whether the rise of VoD services could spell the end for public service broadcasters.