Dorries replaces Dowden as Culture Secretary in UK cabinet reshuffle

The change comes as part of a major cabinet reshuffle that saw a number of ministers change roles. Dowden was appointed chairman of the governing Conservative Party, and will also remain in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio.

Dorries has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005. Prior to the new role at DCMS, she had been Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety, a role she had held since 2019.

Dorries will head up DCMS while it continues its review of the 2005 Gambling Act. The review began last year with a call for evidence covering a number of topics such as marketing, limits and the Gambling Commission. A white paper examining next steps is set to be published later this year.

DCMS Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale – who was responsible for overseeing the British lottery and gambling industry, having taken on that role in March this year – has also left his post.

Whittingdale had been seen as relatively supportive of the industry, having chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture when it produced a report calling for further expansion of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).