Please wait...
Please wait...

PM Rishi Sunak names Lucy Frazer 12th UK culture secretary in as many years

The UK has yet another new culture secretary after prime minister Rishi Sunak appointed Lucy Frazer in yesterday’s reshuffle of his cabinet.

Lucy Frazer

She will take over as secretary of state for culture, media and sport from Michelle Donelan, who was appointed by Liz Truss during her brief tenure as PM at the end of last year.

Frazer becomes the 12th person to hold the position in as many years under Conservative Party rule.

Unlike Donelan, who took over from Nadine Dorries in September of last year and was a former Sky and WWE marketing exec, Frazer has no notable previous experience of working in the media.

During her tenure, Donelan had set about reversing Dorries’ controversial plans to privatise UK pubcaster Channel 4.

Frazer will head a refocused culture, media and sport department that will, according to a statement by the government, “recognise the importance of these industries to our economy and build on the UK’s position as a global leader in the creative arts.”

Frazer has been the member of parliament for South-East Cambridgeshire since 2015. A barrister by profession, previous political roles have seen her serve as minister of state for prisons, financial secretary to the treasury, minister of state for transport and minister of state for housing and planning.

In 2015, Frazer hit the headlines when she made an ill-advised joke in the House of Commons about sending Scottish people to the colonies as slaves.

Please wait...