CONSERVATIVE MP Lucy Frazer has become the UK’s new Culture Secretary after Rishi Sunak announced a mini-reshuffle.
The Prime Minister announced four new and revamped departments which he said would "ensure the right skills and teams are focused on the prime minister's five promises".
Greg Hands was appointed the new Tory party chair, following the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi over a tax scandal.
RECAP: Rishi Sunak creates FOUR new UK Government departments
Grant Shapps becomes the head of the newly formed department for Energy, Security and Net Zero; Kemi Badenoch takes on the role of Business Secretary; Michelle Donelan becomes Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary; and Frazer will lead a revamped Culture, Media and Sports Department.
🆕 With the approval of His Majesty The King, the Prime Minister has announced the creation of four new departments. These departments will ensure the right skills and teams are delivering for the British people.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) February 7, 2023
Who is Lucy Frazer and what is her background?
Born in Yorkshire, Lucy Frazer was educated at the private Leeds Girls’ High School before attending Cambridge University.
She is a former barrister who worked in commercial law in London, becoming a QC (Queen's Counsel) when she was 40. Her title is now KC (King's Counsel) following Charles' ascension to the throne.
Frazer has been the MP for South East Cambridgeshire since the 2015 General Election.
The 50-year-old has taken on several ministerial roles and has attended Cabinet before. These include a junior role in the justice department under Theresa May before being moved up to solicitor general for England and Wales by the then PM.
Following Boris Johnson’s election, she was appointed prisons minister, followed by a role in the Treasury before becoming transport minister under Liz Truss and then housing minister under Rishi Sunak.
She is the 15th Tory to hold the housing post in just 12 years, and the fifth in just eight months.
'Scottish slaves' joke controversy
Frazer found herself in hot water in 2020 after making a joke about sending Scots to colonies as slaves.
The 2015 clip of Lucy Frazer suggesting transporting Scots as slaves could be the answer to the West Lothian Question was unsurfaced in 2020 following the public debate over Britain’s involvement in the slave trade at the time.
The Tory has since apologised for the comments that sparked anger north of the Border.
The UK minister made the joke in the Commons in response to a question over voting rights.
June 4 2015 and Lucy Frazer (Tory MP for South East Cambridgeshire) jokes about turning the Scots into slaves. pic.twitter.com/tGjvNuTmBU
— TRADASRO 🏴 (@tradasro) June 3, 2020
Egged on by her colleagues Frazer said at the time: “[Cambridgeshire] is the home of Oliver Cromwell, who defeated the Scots at Dunbar, incorporated Scotland into his Protectorate and transported the Scots as slaves to the colonies.
“Now there is an answer to the West Lothian question – but not one that of course I would recommend.”
MPs around Frazer then erupted into laughter.
The West Lothian Question asks whether MPs from the devolved nations should be able to vote on England-only matters.
Social media users were furious with the clip, with one writing: “Slavery it’s all a bit of a laugh really for the Tories.”
Others labelled the joke "appalling" and "disgusting".
