After becoming prime minister on Tuesday (25 October), Rishi Sunak named Thérèse Coffey, who was formerly recycling minister between 2016 and 2019, as environment secretary (see letsrecycle.com story).
Dr Coffey has now begun naming her ministers. Mark Spencer was announced yesterday as minister of state, a role he previously held under Liz Truss’s administration.
Today, the department announced that Ms Harrison would similarly return to her role.
Ms Harrison first became under secretary on 7 September as part of the reshuffle following the appointment of Ms Truss as prime minister (see letsrecycle.com story). On 12 October, Defra confirmed her as the minister with responsibility for waste and resources.
Copeland
Ms Harrison holds a foundation degree in sustainable communities from the University of Salford.
Prior to entering politics, Ms Harrison worked at the Sellafield nuclear site for five years as a technical clerk before setting up and running a childcare business.
Following a career break, she was next employed by Copeland borough council, first as a locality officer and then as community regeneration officer.
Ms Harrison left the council in 2013 to work as a programme manager for investors specialising in renewable energy and sustainable community projects.
She was elected Conservative MP for Copeland in 2017 and served on the House of Commons European statutory instruments committee and the education committee.
Ms Harrison has previously served as a parliamentary private secretary at the department for transport, ministry for defence and the department for education.
Upon confirmation of her responsibility for waste policy in early October, representatives from across the sector welcomed her appointment and urged her to press on with reforms (see letsrecycle.com).
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