British Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed Amber Rudd MP as new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the UK.
She succeeds the Liberal Democrats’ Edward Davey, who lost his seat in Kingston and Surbiton to the Conservatives.
Davey last week won 20.415 votes, almost 3.000 less compared to Conservative candidate James Berry’s 23.249.
Edward Davey was appointed Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change in February 2012. He was elected Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton on 1 May 1997.
Amber Rudd
Rudd was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change from July 2014 until May 2015. She was elected Conservative MP for Hastings & Rye on 6 May 2010.
From 2010 to 2012 she was a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. She then served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2012 to 2013, and as Assistant Whip from October 2013.
Graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in history, Amber Rudd worked in investment banking in the City of London and New York, before moving into venture capital. She then set up a freelance recruitment business and wrote for financial publications, before being elected to Parliament in May 2010.
Greenpeace response
Greenpeace was quick to react. In response to Amber Rudd’s appouintment to the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Johm Sauven , Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, said:
“Amber Rudd’s appointment as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate is a hopeful sign that the Government remains committed to implementing the Climate Change Act and achieving a strong international climate deal in Paris later this year. Ms Rudd was a key player in securing vital reforms to the EU Common Fisheries Policy and championing a better deal for the UK’s local, sustainable fishing sector. We look forward to her bringing the same drive and ambition to securing the clean and efficient energy future Britain needs.”
Offshore Energy Today Staff