Michael Gove appointed as environment secretary
Theresa May has appointed Michael Gove as Defra’s secretary of state during a cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Gove, elected as Conservative MP for Surrey Heath in 2005, served as justice secretary from 2015-16, but Mrs May did not appoint him to the cabinet when she became Prime Minister last July.
Andrea Leadsom has served as Defra secretary of state since she was appointed in July 2016, succeeding Liz Truss, who replaced Mr Gove as justice secretary. As of 11 June, Mrs Leadsom was appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons.
As environment secretary, Mr Gove will be responsible for:
- overseeing EU exit work and the overall policy programme
- international relations
- emergencies
- departmental administration
Other governmental roles fulfilled by Mr Gove include shadow minister for housing (2005-2007), shadow secretary of state for children, schools and families (2007-2010) and education secretary (2010). More recently he has served as government chief whip, parliamentary secretary to the treasury and lord chancellor.