Sarah Newton, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth since May 2010, has been appointed as the new health and safety minister following Penny Mordaunt’s move as part of a recent government reshuffle.
(Image – source: sarahnewton.org
Sarah Newton has been appointed minister of state for disabled people, health and work at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Her responsibilities will include cross-government disability issues; work and health strategy, including sponsorship of the Joint Work and Health Unit; disability employment, including Disability Confident, Work Choice, Access to Work, the Work and Health Programme and mental health in the workplace; support for those at risk of falling out of work, including occupational health and Statutory Sick Pay; and oversight of the Health and Safety Executive and the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
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The move comes after Penny Mordaunt was moved to the Department for International Development, following Priti Patel’s resignation after unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials and politicians.
Newton’s previous role was as a junior minister in the Home Office, and her responsibilities included mental health, modern slavery, drugs, alcohol and anti-social behaviour.
She was educated at Falmouth Comprehensive School before reading history at Kings College London.
Voting history
In 2016 Newton backed Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
According to the website They Work for You, Newton has “generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights”. Her voting history can be seen here.
Public Whip states that Newton backed the coalition government’s main legislative reforms of health and safety, voting in favour of the Deregulation Act’s exemption of self-employed people from health and safety law; and for the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act’s reform of the civil claims system.
