Former Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrea Leadsom has joined Amber Rudd in the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s new line-up following her promotion to Minister of State for Energy yesterday evening.
Leadsom, the current MP for South Northamptonshire, will replace Matthew Hancock who was promoted to the role of minister for the Cabinet Office and paymaster general as part of David Cameron’s ongoing cabinet reshuffle.
Leadsom has a mixed approach to renewable energy having previously been vocal in her opposition to onshore wind farms, arguing against technology she considers to be unreliable.
She has also previously written about solar farms and their impact on nearby villages and properties, warning that she did not accept a solar farm’s proximity to a national grid connection dictated its positioning.
Leadsom does, however have strong links to the Treasury and will be considered a like-for-like replacement for Hancock in that sense, a link which is likely to be welcomed considering the upcoming FITs review and the previously fractured relationship between the two parties.
David Cameron has yet to appoint any additional junior ministers or undersecretaries to the department, however announcements are continuing to be made.