Florence Eshalomi MP has been confirmed as the new faith minister.
The Catholic and MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell will take on the brief alongside responsibilities for homelessness, democracy and communities.
Eshalomi becomes the eleventh politician to hold the role in the past ten years. She succeeds Lord Lemos, who departed nearly four weeks ago after 41 days in post.
Having grown up worshipping at Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Brixton, Eshalomi said in parliament that her “life revolves around that church”. It is where she met her husband, got married, and where her children were baptised.
She is the chair of Friends of CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) All-Party Parliamentary Group and member of Christians in Parliament.
Writing in The Tablet ahead of the 2024 general election, Eshalomi said Labour was beginning to “embrace faith in new ways” under Sir Keir Starmer as “it takes faith to change a country”.
“The challenge for our next government is not simply to value the Church as another emergency service, but as a partner in national renewal” she said, highlighting the role of faith in protecting the vulnerable.
She also spoke out against the persecution and killing of Christians in Nigeria, where her family has its roots.
The ministerial brief falls under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is led by secretary of state Angela Rayner.