New prime minister Andy Burnham has appointed former entrepreneur Lord Sonny Leong as the government’s new small business minister.
He replaces Blair McDougall, small business minister under Keir Starmer, who has moved to a new role jointly in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBSIT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Lord Leong co-founded Cavendish Publishing in 1990. According to Wikipedia, the company made £250,000 in its first year and by 2003 was the largest independent law publisher in the UK. He is also co-founder of SME4Labour, which advocates for small business policies by the Labour Party.
Writing on LinkedIn, he said:
“Businesses of every size—from ambitious start-ups and family firms to our largest employers—are the engine of our economy. My priority will be to help create the conditions in which they can succeed, thrive and grow. When businesses flourish, they create good jobs, drive innovation, attract investment, boost exports and strengthen the communities they serve.
“The UK has extraordinary talent, entrepreneurial spirit and world-class businesses. I am excited to play my part in ensuring that government is a partner in their success and that together we build a stronger, more productive and more prosperous economy.
“I look forward to working with businesses, trade bodies, investors and colleagues across every region and nation of the UK in the months ahead.”
Other business ministers are:
- Kanishka Narayan: Minister for AI (jointly in DBIST and the Cabinet Office)
- Kate Dearden: Minister for the future of work
- Chris McDonald: Minister for science
- Baroness Liz Lloyd: Parliamentary under secretary of state for regulation and tech policy (jointly in DBIST and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
- Anas Sarwar: Minister for trade
DBSIT is the name of the new expanded business department following the closure of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It is led by Jonathan Reynolds.
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