DCMS appoints Kamall as next civil society minister

Lord Syed Kamall has been appointed as minister for civil society following the departure of Nigel Huddleston from the role.

Earlier this week Kamall joined a parliamentary under secretary of state as part of a raft of new ministerial appointments at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

He has now confirmed that he is taking on the civil society, heritage, tourism and growth areas of policy in the department.

This mirrors the broad remit of Huddleston, who was minister for civil society, youth, sport, heritage and tourism.

Kamall’s appointment means there is no return for a dedicated charities and youth ministerial role.

This was last held by Baroness Barran but was axed when she moved to the Department for Education in October last year and her DCMS policy areas were merged into Huddleston’s heritage, tourism and sport brief.

The axing of a dedicated charities minister post and wide breadth of Huddleston's remit had raised concerns among charity leaders.

Life peer Kamall, who is professor of politics and international relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, was previously technology, innovation and life sciences minister at the Department of Health and Social Care but was moved to the DCMS as part of Prime Minister Liz Truss’ government reshuffle.

He is a former leader of Conservatives in the European Parliament and joined the House of Lords in 2021.

Clare Mills, policy and communications director at the Charity Finance Group, said she is looking forward to working with Kamall.

We’re looking forward to working with you, @SyedKamall https://t.co/qpFHZiqrdM
— Clare Mills - #MaskingForAFriend (@Clare_CFG) September 22, 2022

While Social Enterprise UK chief executive Peter Holbrook welcomed Kamall to his new ministerial role.

As part of Truss’ reshuffle former education secretary Michelle Donelan was appointed culture secretary, Julia Lopez rejoined the DCMS as minister of state, and former housing and justice minister Stuart Andrew joined as a parliamentary under secretary of state.