Culture Secretary Cancels Lady Archer"s Appointment for London Parks

Lisa Nandy, the new culture secretary, has canceled the appointment of Lady Archer as chair of London’s Royal Parks, a position she was set to assume after being appointed by the previous government in May. Instead, Loyd Grossman, who has held the role since 2016, will continue until a new recruitment process is completed. This decision follows Labour's significant victory in the July general election, which allowed the new administration to reassess political appointments made by the former government. Lady Archer, who is married to former Tory MP Lord Archer, has an extensive background in leadership roles, including her recent position as chancellor of the University of Buckingham and chairing the board of trustees at the Science Museum. Her qualifications were acknowledged by Andrew Scattergood, the chief executive of The Royal Parks, who expressed confidence in her potential contributions to the organization. Despite her credentials, Nandy's decision to reopen the recruitment process has drawn criticism. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of parliament’s culture committee, labeled the move as “spiteful,” arguing that Lady Archer was well-suited for the role. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) emphasized that any significant political activity by appointees must be declared, and Grossman has not reported any such activities. The DCMS plans to conduct a fair and open competition for the new chair, indicating a shift in the approach to political appointments under the current government. This situation highlights the ongoing political dynamics and the impact of election outcomes on public appointments.