CHIPPENHAM MP Michelle Donelan has been reappointed as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

She gained the Cabinet post under Prime Minister Liz Truss and was reappointed in the reshuffle by new PM Rishi Sunak after Mrs Truss resigned yesterday after only 49 days in office.

Ms Donelan, 38, said: "I was delighted to be reappointed as Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at a time when there is so much vital work to be done.

"From protecting children online through the Online Harms Bill, to safeguarding football clubs from poor ownerships and delivering our commitments to invest in grassroots sport and world-leading cultural assets right across the country, the breadth of the work of the department, and the tangible impact of people's quality of life is almost immeasurable.

"I am excited about the challenge and will deliver.

"As I have always said, my first priority is, and will always remain, my constituents in Wiltshire. I will continue to hold regular surgeries, champion local causes and be an approachable and dedicated champion for my constituents in Parliament."

Miss Donelan, who became the MP for Chippenham in 2015, was formerly universities minister in the Department for Education and briefly the Secretary of State for Education.

She lasted only 36 hours in the latter role before joining a wave of ministers who resigned to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after they lost confidence in him. He eventually stepped down in July and was replaced by Liz Truss in September.

Just two days after Miss Donelan was appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, she was tasked with the huge responsibility of overseeing arrangements for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11’s funeral, including the organisation and marshalling of the enormous five-day long queue to see the monarch lying in state.

Her Department also oversees briefs as disparate as children’s access to social media, major sporting events including football championships, and cultural events such as next year’s Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool.

She also has responsibility for the oversight of public broadcasters, including the BBC and Channel 4.

Her predecessor Nadine Dorries, had been determined to privatise Channel 4 and end the BBC’s licence fee, which funds up to 70 per cent of its broadcasting output. Miss Donelan has not yet stated where she stands on these major issues.