NEW ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO SECRETARY APPOINTED

Claire Coutinho is the new Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, replacing Grant Shapps who has become Defence Secretary.

She moves from her job as parliamentary under-secretary of state with responsibility for childcare.

She is also a former minister for disabled people in the Department for Work and Pensions

A maths and philosophy graduate of Exeter College, Oxford University,

Ms Coutinho previously worked for investment bank Merrill Lynch, the Centre for Social Justice and the Housing and Finance Institute, a not-for-profit organisation which aimed to help improve house building. She was elected to Parliament as MP for East Surrey in December 2019. 

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