Process champions moved in reshuffle
15 Jul 2014
Two key allies of the process industries were today removed from their posts by Prime Minister David Cameron in his cabinet reshuffle.
Energy minister Michael Fallon, the politician who has led the government’s charge on shale gas development, was promoted by Cameron to the position of defence secretary.
Fallon has also been a key political ally of the chemicals sector, working with industry to develop a growth strategy and sitting as co-chairman of the Chemistry Growth Partnership.
He will be replaced by former skills minister Matthew Hancock, who will have a joint role as a minister in both the business and energy departments. Junior Treasury minister Amber Rudd has also moved to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
[Willetts] has always shown strong leadership, enhancing the science and research base in this country
ABPI chief executive Stephen Whitehead
Science minister David Willetts, meanwhile, has resigned from his post.
Willetts led a number of initiatives to boost skills levels and support research and development, and he was singled out for praise by several trade bodies.
“On behalf of the UK biopharmaceutical industry, I would like to express my appreciation for all that David Willetts has done to champion our sector over the last four years,” said Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) chief executive Stephen Whitehead.
“In his role as Minister of State for Universities and Science he has always shown strong leadership, enhancing the science and research base, and specifically the biopharmaceutical sector, in this country.”
Institution of Mechanical Engineers chief executive Stephen Tetlow said he hoped Willets’ replacement Greg Clark – who will take on the role in addition to his current brief as cities minister – would “continue the valuable work of David Willetts MP in promoting science and engineering”.
Other relevant appointments in the cabinet reshuffle include Liz Truss as environment secretary, Nick Boles as joint business and education minister, and George Freeman as junior minister responsible for life sciences, working across both the business and health departments.
“This joint appointment is welcome and shows that the government understands the importance of health and science policy in supporting the life sciences sector in the UK,” added Whitehead.
“I look forward to meeting both of them and building on the work already done by David Willetts to cultivate growth and prosperity in the UK life sciences industry.”
