British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday, breaking up two departments to better suit his pledges to spur the British economy. This move is aimed to turn around his party's fortunes before an election expected next year.

Rishi Sunak has been looking for a new party chairman for over a week now, following the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi.

In this reshuffling, Sunak created a new energy security and net zero department, to be led by minister Grant Shapps. Sunak split the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to create four new portfolios, including one for science and innovation, a personal passion.

Post this reshuffling, Michelle Donelan will be the new secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. She was culture secretary. Kemi Badenoch will be the new secretary of state for business and trade. She was international trade secretary, but she will retain the “president of the board of trade” title she currently has (although it is little used) and she will remain minister for women and equalities. Lucy Frazer is the new secretary for culture, media and sport. She was a levelling up minister. Greg Hands is the new Conservative party chair. He was an international trade secretary.

Sunak is trying to steer the British economy through a prolonged period of double-digit inflation and stagnation, a situation worsened by the soaring cost of energy.

The British PM is also under pressure to try to prove his belief that Britain can reap the benefits of its departure from the European Union by developing new trade ties with international partners.

"The government needs to reflect the priorities of the British people and be designed to deliver for them," Sunak said on Twitter. "These changes will focus teams on the issues that will build a better future for our children and grandchildren."

Image source: Reuters