The chair of the Heathrow Airport community relations group has quit to become chief of staff to the new foreign secretary David Cameron.
Liz Sugg, who previously served in Downing Street under Cameron, departed her role as Chair of the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA) after 15 months.
The airport’s director of communities & sustainability said the organisation was disappointed by the decision.
Sugg said: “I am excited by my new role where I will be working to help deal with the major international challenges we face, but I will miss CISHA and wish the organisation and all those that engage with it the very best for the future.
“I firmly believe that all people and communities impacted by the airport should be well represented, with their views heard and acted upon.
“I know that the momentum we have built together will continue after my departure.”
The group, which holds the airport to account and seeks to resolve issues that affect those living near the west London site, was launched in 2022.
Sugg was appointed to the House of Lords in Cameron’s 2016 resignation honours list, before serving as a junior minister in Boris Johnson’s government.
She resigned as Minister for the Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development in 2020 when the then-chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a cut in the overseas aid budget.
Lord Cameron visited the Middle East last week, where he warned Israel that civilian casualties in Gaza were too high.
Mark Izatt, Deputy Chair of CISHA, said: “Only the fact that Liz is leaving to take her skills to a crucial role at a time of great international uncertainty offsets our disappointment at her departure.
“Liz put her heart and soul into the role at CISHA and quickly established a reputation for fairness and focus.”
CISHA is expected to appoint a new chair shortly.
Featured image via YouTube.
