The new Prime Minister's decision to retain Martin McCluskey in his role at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will be watched closely in Inverclyde. The local MP — who entered Westminster in 2024 and previously served as an Inverclyde councillor — confirmed late on Wednesday that he will continue as a minister under Andy Burnham, following a nationwide reshuffle of senior government posts.
What the reappointment means locally
Mr McCluskey said he was grateful for the opportunity to keep serving and set out a clear priority: tackling the cost of energy for households across his constituency and beyond. For residents of Greenock and the surrounding area, that pledge will be measured against recent regulatory work overseen by his department, notably involving community and district heating schemes.
"Delighted to be reappointed as a Minister in the department for energy security and net zero. Thank you to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to continue serving in government, and to constituents across Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West who give me the privilege of being able to do this job. I'm looking forward to getting back to work to help deliver lower bills for people in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West and across the country."
The minister's time in office has included introducing regulation for community heating systems. That work has been particularly pertinent locally because of the highly publicised problems with the Broomhill biomass boiler, which has experienced multiple breakdowns and drawn criticism from residents and civic leaders.
Context: reshuffle and departmental links
The change of leader at Downing Street prompted a broad rearrangement at the top of government. Several previous cabinet figures were replaced by appointees viewed as aligned with Mr Burnham. Despite those moves, Mr McCluskey remains at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; the source material also notes that the former energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has moved to the Foreign Office.
- MP retained: Martin McCluskey remains at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
- Local priorities: lowering energy bills and continuing regulation of community heating schemes.
- Recent actions: oversight of new rules affecting district and community heating, including scrutiny of the Broomhill biomass installation.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| MP | Martin McCluskey |
| Position | Minister at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
| Constituency | Inverclyde & Renfrewshire West |
| Entered Westminster | 2024 |
For Inverclyde residents, the practical ramifications of this continuity may be immediate. Continued ministerial oversight could speed up responses to malfunctioning local heating infrastructure, strengthen consumer protections, and shape national measures aimed at reducing household energy costs. Conversely, the effectiveness of those promises will depend on how quickly departmental policy translates into funding and regulation that reaches local projects.
Local campaigners and councillors who have pushed for clearer accountability over community heating will now be looking to Mr McCluskey to follow through on commitments made while in post. The Broomhill biomass boiler and other district systems remain under scrutiny, and any further interventions from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will be reported closely by local outlets.
As the new government beds in, constituents in Greenock and the wider Inverclyde area will be measuring performance on two fronts: reductions in energy bills and tangible improvement in the reliability and regulation of local heating schemes. The minister's reappointment keeps a familiar figure in place to lead that work.
