Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Uma Kumaran MP has been appointed to oversee the Caribbean and the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands.

The appointment begins a new ministerial relationship between London and the Cayman Islands Government, with Ms Kumaran succeeding Stephen Doughty MP, who has moved to a new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office portfolio covering the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, sanctions, consular affairs and devolution.

The Labour MP for Stratford and Bow now assumes responsibility for the UK's day-to-day ministerial engagement with the 14 Overseas Territories at a time when constitutional issues, regional security, climate resilience and financial services remain high on the agenda.

Portfolio confirmed after Prime Minister's appointments

Three days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered Downing Street on 20 July, Ms Kumaran confirmed on X that she had joined the Government, writing:

"Honoured to be appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office."

She added:

"At a volatile time globally, Britain's voice and international leadership matters. Looking forward to serving under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and Minister Catherine West."

Her ministerial responsibilities were not announced at that stage.

Four days later, on 27 July, Ms Kumaran revealed the details of her portfolio in a second post on X.

"An honour to be given responsibility for my new Ministerial brief, covering: the Caribbean, the Overseas Territories, global tech and AI, and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)," she wrote.

She continued:

"I look forward to working with global partners on our shared interests - from action on the climate crisis in the Caribbean, to tackling VAWG, to unlocking the shared opportunities of the AI revolution."

Concluding her statement, she wrote:

"It's the honour of my life to be serving my country alongside our fantastic team in @FCDOGovUK. I will always stand up for Britain's interests, relationships and values abroad."

The announcement formally confirmed that responsibility for the Caribbean and the Overseas Territories had transferred to Ms Kumaran.

New relationship with the Cayman Islands

First elected to Parliament in 2024, Ms Kumaran assumes responsibility for the Caribbean and the Overseas Territories early in her parliamentary career. She has not served as an officer of the Cayman Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group, has not referred to the Cayman Islands in parliamentary proceedings since entering the House of Commons, and there is no public record of prior official engagement with the Cayman Islands Government.

From 29 October 2024 until her appointment as a Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 22 July 2026, Uma Kumaran served on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. By long-standing parliamentary convention, government ministers do not continue serving on departmental select committees that scrutinise their own department, as doing so would create a conflict of interest.

Before entering Parliament, Ms Kumaran served as an adviser to Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. During part of that period, Premier André Ebanks was based in London as the Cayman Islands Government's Representative to the United Kingdom and Europe from 2019 to 2021, although there is no public indication that the two met in their official capacities.

Her appointment therefore marks the beginning of a new ministerial relationship with the Cayman Islands Government.

Doughty moves to Middle East portfolio

Mr Doughty, who oversaw relations with the Overseas Territories from July 2024 until July 2026, announced his new responsibilities on X.

During his two-year tenure, he became the first UK minister responsible for the Overseas Territories to visit the Cayman Islands in more than five years. His official visit in September 2025 followed the last ministerial visit by Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, who travelled to the Territory in February 2020 while serving as Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, whose portfolio also included the Overseas Territories.

During his visit, Mr Doughty met Premier André Ebanks, Governor Jane Owen and members of the Cayman Islands Government to discuss constitutional relations, security, financial services, migration and climate resilience.

Posting on X, Mr Doughty wrote:

"I'm now honoured to take on responsibility for our work on the Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan & sanctions."

He added:

"I will also take on supporting our citizens needing help globally & work with devolved governments, mayors & councils to deliver for people at home in the UK."

His new portfolio covers the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, sanctions policy, consular affairs and relations with the UK's devolved administrations.

Earlier Westminster reports borne out

The ministerial changes followed several days of speculation within Westminster.

Contrary to some reports circulating in the Cayman Islands, Ms Kumaran's appointment had been anticipated in Westminster. During the previous week, The Caymanian Journal was informed by a well-placed Westminster source that she was expected to receive responsibility for the Caribbean and the Overseas Territories. Because the information could not be independently verified, it was not reported as confirmed before the Government's announcement.

Seeking clarification, The Caymanian Journal contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on 27 July regarding the reported ministerial changes. The department declined to comment before the Government formally announced ministerial responsibilities.

Only after the official announcements were made later that day, after normal working hours, did Ms Kumaran publicly confirm that the Caribbean and the Overseas Territories formed part of her ministerial brief.

For the Cayman Islands, the appointment comes as London and the Overseas Territories continue to engage on constitutional governance, financial regulation, security cooperation and climate resilience. With Mr Doughty moving to one of the Foreign Office's most demanding geopolitical portfolios, Ms Kumaran inherits responsibility for a relationship that has taken on increased prominence in recent years, while beginning a new chapter in Whitehall's engagement with the Territory.