With parliament drawing to close for the summer recess, Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister was confirmed on Monday, swiftly followed by announcements of who would sit in his new cabinet.
The most important piece of continuity for the creative industries is that Lisa Nandy remains Secretary of State, continuing to lead what will once again be known as the Department for Digital, Culture and Media Sport (DCMS). This marks a return to the Department's previous remit before February 2023, when digital policy was transferred out of DCMS following the creation of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
There is also continuity at ministerial level, with Ian Murray remaining Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries. For Directors UK, the continuity with Lisa Nandy and Ian Murray ensures that relationships developed over the past two years will remain in place. This will provide a degree of stability for engagement with the Government on issues affecting the screen sector.
The most significant structural change is the abolition of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Following the reshuffle, its functions will now be divided between the newly created Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), DCMS and the Cabinet Office. Science and innovation policy will move into BIST, led by Jonathan Reynolds, while responsibility for digital policy returns to DCMS.
Kanishka Narayan has been appointed AI Minister, with the role now attending Cabinet for the first time. Narayan previously served as Minister for AI and Online Safety, but this position was not previously represented at Cabinet level. Responsibility for AI policy will now be shared between the Cabinet Office and BIST.
What does this mean for Directors UK?
The return of digital policy to DCMS, combined with the continued presence of both Lisa Nandy and Ian Murray, will give some stability to the creative sector and its relationship with Government.
The reshuffle also comes at a significant moment for media policy. The Media Green Paper Consultation is currently open and exploring public service media and the sustainability of UK content production. For Directors UK, this presents an important opportunity to make the case for strong public service media, the sustainability of the production sector, freelancer rights and the need to protect IP and creator value.
The breakup of DSIT does create a complex policy landscape. Issues that matter to directors, including AI, digital regulation, intellectual property and wider technology policy, will now be spread across multiple departments and ministers. While DCMS will once again hold responsibility for digital policy alongside the creative industries, important decisions relating to AI and innovation will increasingly sit within BIST and the Cabinet Office.
For Directors UK, this will mean continuing to engage with DCMS on creative industries policy, while also strengthening engagement across government as decisions affecting creators and rights holders become more dispersed. When representing the interests of directors, understanding where decisions are being made, and by whom, will be more important than ever.