(London) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took advantage of a mini-reshuffle on Tuesday to create a new ministry dedicated to Energy Security and Carbon Neutrality, promising Britons greener energy and lower bills.
The creation of this new ministry will make it possible to “reduce energy bills”, “produce more energy here” for more “independence and security”, declared the head of government to journalists, highlighting the need not to depend on “hostile countries” highlighted by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Through this announcement, Rishi Sunak is trying to regain control during a reshuffle caused by the dismissal of the president of the conservative party, Nadhim Zahawi, minister without portfolio.
He had been fired by Rishi Sunak after an investigation highlighting Nadhim Zahawi’s lack of transparency in his disputes with the tax authorities. Greg Hands, until then Secretary of State at the Ministry of International Trade, has been appointed to succeed him as Conservative Party President and will thus have to coordinate the action of the party in power for 13 years and at its lowest in the polls in the approach of the legislative elections in less than two years.
This appointment led to a slight reshuffle marked by the creation of four ministries, while Rishi Sunak, in power for just over 100 days, is weakened by a succession of embarrassing affairs within his government and a social crisis which lasts. , with repeated strikes.
Former Conservative Party leader Nadim Zahawi was sacked after being found guilty of a “serious violation of the ministerial code” according to Rishi Sunak. He had reached an agreement in principle with the tax authorities in August 2022, when he was Boris Johnson’s finance minister, before ratifying it the following month.
According to the press, Nadhim Zahawi has settled what he owed to the tax authorities, with penalties, for nearly five million pounds sterling (5.7 million euros).
With the reshuffle, Grant Shapps, who had served as business and energy minister since October, becomes energy security and carbon neutrality minister.
Greenpeace said this would be “as useful as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic”.
“It is government policy and under-investment that is preventing real action on the climate and energy crises, not incumbent departments or ministers,” said Doug Parr of Greenpeace UK.
Among other appointments, Kemi Badenoch becomes minister of business and commerce.
