UK culture minister Ed Vaizey is returning to the back benches of British politics after new Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Matthew Hancock as his replacement.

Hancock, the MP for West Suffolk, joins new culture secretary Karen Bradley at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Previously acting as minister of state for energy, minister of state for small business, industry and enterprise, minister for Portsmouth and minister of state for skills and enterprise, until last week’s reshuffle Hancock was the acting minister for the Cabinet Office and paymaster general.

His predecessor became the longest-serving culture minister earlier this year and was was vocal about his position as part of the remain camp in the recent EU referendum. Following the leave vote, Vaizey called for the culture sector to help heal divisions caused by the decision, which is expected to cost UK museums billions in lost funding.

“Ed was a champion of museums in England and always willing to listen to the views of staff and visitors at a local level,” said Sharon Heal, Museums Association director.

“One of his great achievements was to get the culture white paper published and instigate a museum review off the back of it. I hope his successor Matthew Hancock will pick up the reigns and ensure the job that Ed has started is completed.”