Whittingdale rejoins Department for Culture, Media and Sport

John Whittingdale

Sir John Whittingdale MP has been named to act as the minister of state jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

His appointment will take full effect following the maternity leave of Michelle Donelan, secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Julia Lopez, minister of State in the Department.

Whittingdale previously served as minister of State for Media and Data in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in 2020 and in 2015 he was formerly appointed as secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

In February 2023, Lucy Frazer KC MP was appointed the new secretary of State for Culture, Media. The Conservative MP represent South East Cambridgeshire, after being elected in 2015. Last year she previously served as minister of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and was minister of State at the Department for Transport. She was also appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury in 2021.

Following the appointment of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak , the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport was replaced by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The responsibility of digital now falls under the the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

In a tweet, Whittingdale said: “Delighted to be returning to Government for third time as minister @DCMS as well as @SciTechgovuk. Best wishes to Julia Lopez MP whose seat I will be keeping warm.”