It has been announced today (April 21) that Oliver Dowden CBE is the new Deputy Prime Minister of the UK.

It comes after the current Deputy PM, Dominic Raab resigned earlier this morning due to an inquiry after he was found to have bullied staff members while working as a cabinet minister.

As Dowden takes on this new role in the government, this is everything we know about him – including his previous roles as an MP.

Who is Oliver Dowden?

He was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on October 25, 2022 before being appointed Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office on February 9, 2023.

Over the years, the newly chosen Deputy Prime Minister was previously Minister without Portfolio, Cabinet Office between September 15, 2021 and June 2022.

Before that, he was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport between February 13, 2020 and September 15, 2021.

His career spans back even earlier with other roles in the Cabinet Office such as Paymaster General and Minister and Parliamentary Secretary.

Dowden was elected Conservative MP for Hertsmere in May 2015, reports the government website.

What is Oliver Dowden doing now?

Until becoming Deputy Prime Minister today, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was in charge of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster, and is a member of the Cabinet.

The main role of the Deputy PM is to stand in at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), chair the cabinet when the Prime Minister is absent and hold important meetings.

After Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he is the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office.

Dominic Raab resigns as Deputy Prime Minister

Dominic Raab resigned earlier this morning (April 21) as deputy prime minister after an inquiry found he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials in behaviour that could have amounted to bullying.

The news comes after Rishi Sunak was presented with an official report into Mr Raab's behaviour on Thursday (April 20).

In a report from independent investigator Adam Tolley KC, the investigation published on Friday concluded Mr Raab engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power” that “undermines or humiliates” while foreign secretary.

Mr Raab’s conduct in the department had a “significant adverse effect” on one colleague and he was also found to have been “intimidating” to staff by criticising “utterly useless” work while justice secretary.