Daughter of hotel and pub owner appointed as culture secretary

Karen Bradley, the daughter of a hotel and pub owner, has been appointed secretary of state for culture, media and sport, replacing John Whittingdale, who was in the post for 14 months.

The MP for Staffordshire Moorlands is the latest appointment to be made by new Prime Minister Theresa May as she unveiled her new government since taking over from David Cameron yesterday (13 July).

A supporter of the Remain campaign in the run-up to the EU referendum, Bradley was elected to parliament in 2010 and has previously been a Home Office minister, responsible for preventing abuse, exploitation and crime.

Prior to becoming an MP, she worked as a chartered accountant and tax advisor for Deloitte and KPMG. She grew up over the Queen's Head hotel and pub in Buxton, Derbyshire, owned by her parents.

In her maiden speech she said: "Staffordshire is a large county with a great industrial history… I see it as one of my responsibilities to encourage visitors to that beautiful place, which is something of an undiscovered tourist gem."

Bradley is expected to confirm her team at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which will include a minster responsible for tourism, in the next few days.

After being sacked from the new government, Whittingdale said: "[It] Has been a privilege to serve as culture secretary. I wish my successor every success and will continue to support creative industries"

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