Political Continuity and Leadership Changes at DCMS
Baroness Twycross will remain at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), though it has not been confirmed whether she will retain her role as Gambling Minister. In addition to DCMS, the Labour Peer has been granted an additional brief as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office. DCMS declined to confirm whether Twycross will remain as Gambling Minister, and it may be that the administration has not yet determined the best candidate to oversee the sector.
If Twycross is not selected for the role, Stephanie Peacock MP and Vicky Foxcroft MP appear to be two possible replacements. In parliament since 2015, Foxcroft has been appointed to serve at DCMS with an as-yet unspecified portfolio, while Peacock also remains at the department, where she previously served under Keir Starmer as Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth. Ruth Mackenzie is the other new minister at DCMS, set to receive a peerage with a background as an artistic director in theatre and the arts.
Secretary of State Reappointment and Policy Direction
In recent days, many hopeful politicians have trooped up and down Downing Street to learn their roles in Andy Burnham’s government, with only a handful ending up with exactly the same portfolio. Former leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy is one of those, asked by the new prime minister to continue leading DCMS as Secretary of State. Over past weeks, campaigners have expressed confidence that Burnham’s stance on the gambling industry may be less permissive and growth-oriented than the previous administration.
However, Twycross previously reiterated in the Lords that the government would like to see a regulated, licensed sector grow, which aligns with the Gambling Commission’s emphasis on protecting the licensed market. Nandy similarly told the House of Commons in 2024 that the administration is determined to balance protecting people from harm with supporting a growing industry.
The retention of Twycross would be a telltale signal that Burnham’s promise of change may not involve immediate industry reform, provided she remains Gambling Minister. Twycross has been clear in her policy direction, noting regarding a gambling ad ban that while the public might want less advertising, it is not necessarily her role as minister to do just what the public thinks.
