Former small business minister appointed shadow business secretary by Rishi Sunak

Former prime minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak, who lost the 2024 General Election to Labour's Keir Starmer, has announced his shadow Cabinet.

Taking on the role of business secretary is Kevin Hollinrake, who was small business minister in the previous government.

Ahead of the General Election, Hollinrake took part in Enterprise Nation's small business-focused debate with Labour's then shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who is now business secretary in the new government. The Liberal Democrats' Sarah Olney also took part in the debate.

The shadow Cabinet announcements are an interim measure following Sunak's confirmation that he will resign as leader once the process for selecting his replacement has been put in place.

In other appointments of relevance to small businesses, former chancellor Jeremy Hunt is shadow chancellor, Andrew Griffiths becomes shadow science, innovation and technology secretaty, Julia Lopez is shadow culture secretary and Laura Trott is shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

Kemi Badenoch, who was business secretary under Sunak, is now shadow levelling up, housing and communities secretary. Former prime minister Lord Cameron, who was a surprise appointment as foreign secretary in November 2023, has resigned, with Andrew Mitchell taking on the shadow role.

Some former government ministers have stayed in the same brief for their shadow role, but several changes were made after 11 Cabinet members lost their seats.

Rishi Sunak's shadow cabinet in full:

• Shadow deputy leader of the opposition and shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Oliver Dowden

• Shadow chancellor: Jeremy Hunt

• Shadow foreign secretary: Andrew Mitchell

• Shadow Home secretary: James Cleverly

• Shadow defence secretary: James Cartlidge

• Shadow justice secretary: Ed Argar

• Shadow science, innovation and technology secretary: Andrew Griffith

• Shadow health and social care secretary: Victoria Atkins

• Shadow levelling up, housing and communities secretary: Kemi Badenoch

• Shadow environment secretary: Steve Barclay

• Shadow leader of the House of Commons: Chris Philp

• Shadow leader of the House of Lords: Lord True

• Shadow business secretary: Kevin Hollinrake

• Shadow energy security and net zero secretary: Claire Coutinho

• Shadow work and pensions secretary: Mel Stride

• Shadow education secretary: Damian Hinds

• Shadow transport transport: Helen Whately

• Shadow culture, media and sport secretary: Julia Lopez

• Shadow attorney general: Jeremy Wright

• Shadow Northern Ireland secretary: Alex Burghart

• Shadow Scotland secretary: John Lamont

• Shadow Wales secretary: Lord Davies of Gower

• Opposition Chief Whip: Stuart Andrew

• Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury: Laura Trott

• Shadow Paymaster General: John Glen

• Shadow security minister: Tom Tugendhat

• Shadow veterans minister: Andrew Bowie

• Shadow women and equalities minister: Mims Davies

Sunak's announcements follow new prime minister Keir Starmer appointing his Cabinet, with roles including Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary, Rachel Reeves as chancellor, and Peter Kyle as science, innovation and technology secretary.

He has also begun to appoint ministers of state, but full portfolios, including the small business minister, have yet to be announced.