Minister of State
Responsibilities
Current role holder
Michael Shanks MP
Michael Shanks was appointed Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 6 September 2025.
He was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero from 9 July 2024 to 6 September 2025. He was elected as the MP for Rutherglen in October 2023.
Education
Michael graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in history and politics. He then studied for a PGDE at Glasgow.
Political career
Michael served as the Shadow Minister of State for Scotland from October 2023 to May 2024.
Career outside politics
Michael was a secondary school teacher and previously worked in the third sector on reducing offending. He ran a charity for disabled children for 15 years and is a trustee of 3 other charitable organisations.