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Government & Policy / Tue 5 Sep 2023

Labour appoints Peter Kyle as shadow tech secretary

Peter Kyle Labour shadow tech secretary Image credit: UK Parliament

Labour has appointed Peter Kyle as shadow science and tech secretary in a party reshuffle.

The MP for Hove and Portslade is now responsible for shaping Labour’s tech policy and will sit opposite Michelle Donelan, the secretary of state for science and tech.

The reshuffle sees Labour mirror Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s move to split science and technology from its predecessor – the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – to a dedicated science, tech and innovation department.

Labour’s Lucy Powell, the previous shadow digital and culture secretary, has taken up the role of shadow leader of the House of Commons.

“So happy to take on the role of shadow secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology,” Kyle wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Together, we’ll foster innovation, strengthen our tech sector, and ensure science fuels economic growth and prosperity.”

In a follow-up post, he said: “Full disclosure, the above Tweet was drafted by AI. Wanted to set off on the right foot!”

Kyle, a former aide to Tony Blair, was elected in 2015. He has previously held the roles of shadow minister for victims and youth justice, shadow minister for schools, and most recently shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Prior to politics, he worked as an aid worker in Eastern Europe and the Balkans before becoming a charity sector executive.

Darren Jones, who has been vocal on UK tech issues and had been an outside contender for the tech secretary role, was promoted into a full cabinet position as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.